Reshaping Education for the New Labour Market in Sub-Saharan African Countries

Abstract

This chapter examines the vital role of education and training in the new labour market. It explores the relative importance of technical education and computer literacy for all able working citizens in sub-Saharan African countries. It states that heavy investment in education and training has a great return on productivity and has the potential to change societies for all citizens. The literature on new labour market documents that sub-Saharan African countries that have changed their educational system to reflect technical competency have been able to develop their workforce productivity and national economic development. It asserts that government policies on education and training should be of utmost priority to governance in order to enhance the labour market in the 21st century.

Demographic Dividend in Sub-Saharan Africa – Toward Mitigating Social Inequality? A Critical Analysis of the Enabling Environment

“…Previous research showed that the number of children and youth enrolled in education systems in SSA countries increased substantially in the last two decades [28], even though policies implemented in many SSA countries are questionable in terms of outcomes obtained so far [29]. Another issue regarding education systems in SSA is the mismatch between education curricula and job markets [30,31]. This is even more important in the context of high unemployment rates and its interconnections with human development [32] and economic growth [33] This chapter seeks to understand the opportunities and challenges SSA countries are facing compared to what is called the "Asian miracle" in Thailand and Asian Tigers which reaped DD in the early 1960s to the 1990s [34,35].…”