Main content

Can Africa Afford Free Education?

Does free education mean a reduction in quality as critics of the policy argue?

As classrooms across Africa reopen for the new term, university students in South Africa have vowed to step up their #feesmustfall protests and demands for free education. From January, Tanzania鈥檚 new President John Magufuli has ordered free education for all school children attending state primary and secondary school. 鈥淎nd when I say free education, I indeed mean free,鈥 he said. Tanzania was one of 15 African countries 鈥 including Ghana, Ethiopia and Kenya - to abolish school fees in the early 2000s.

(Photo: Pupils attend a lesson in the yard of Saint-Paul cathedral in Bangui, 2014. Credit: Sia Kambou/AFP/Getty Images)

Available now

50 minutes

Last on

Sun 31 Jan 2016 12:06GMT

Broadcasts

  • Fri 29 Jan 2016 19:06GMT
  • Sun 31 Jan 2016 12:06GMT

The Global News Podcast

The day's top news stories - find it here or subscribe wherever you find your podcasts

The Africa Today Podcast

The day's news in Africa - find it here or subscribe wherever you find your podcasts

Podcast