Skip to content The Open University

There is a desperate shortage of teachers in many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. Each day, 38 million children in Africa do not attend primary school and it is estimated that 3 million more primary school teachers are needed across the region. Severe economic and health problems are at the root of the crisis. HIV/AIDS has decimated the population, and many potential teachers are choosing better paid employment.

Ghanaian teacher using materials developed by The Open University
Ghanaian teacher using materials
developed by The Open University

Despite this, many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are pushing forward strongly to meet a goal of universal primary education by 2015. The OU has a vital role to play in this, and is helping to develop a school-based training programme for unqualified and under-qualified teachers working in primary schools.

Students in a science class – rural Ghana
Students in a science class – rural Ghana
“ The future of Africa lies with its children. Their future depends on having the best teachers possible – but that takes money. We need to raise every penny we can to fully realise the potential of this programme. ”
Professor Bob Moon, The Open University