As the developing world’s single biggest financier for education, the World Bank’s dedication to building up education systems is commendable. But focusing the solution solely on state education isn’t generating the long-term results we need to see — especially in sub-Saharan Africa where learning poverty is at its highest.
Survey findings by the World Bank show that education is top of mind for policymakers worldwide. If we really want to achieve better outcomes in education, we need to get all hands on deck and recognize the affordable nonstate sector, or ANS, in education as a part of the solution.
Education ranked first among respondents to the World Bank’s country surveys as a priority area for the bank’s work to have the most impact on development results. The World Bank and private sector were ranked much higher on the matter of trust in this survey compared to national governments, illustrating the very significant role they can play in spearheading change when national governments struggle to enact change in education.
About the author
Corina Gardner
Corina Gardner is the chief executive officer of the IDP Foundation — a global philanthropy dedicated to advancing affordable nonstate education in low- and lower-middle-income countries. The philanthropy has been running the Rising Schools program in Ghana for 15 years and launched the Ongoza program in Kenya in 2022.
