Education in the WAEMU: Current Situation and the Way Forward
Selected Issues Papers, June 6, 2025
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- Education in the WAEMU: Current Situation and the Way Forward
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Bibliographic details
- Authors: Can Sever
- Published: June 6, 2025
- Series: Selected Issues Papers
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.5089/9798229013697.018
Summary and core argument
- The paper argues for prioritizing the education sector in the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).
- It takes stock of education outcomes across the WAEMU region and documents the macroeconomic relevance of education improvements.
- Education outcomes across the WAEMU region remain relatively weak.
- Empirical estimates in the paper indicate that improvements in education could lead to large income gains.
- Given a young population and high fertility rate, accelerating progress in education is critical.
Key findings
- Education outcomes in WAEMU are relatively weak compared with desired benchmarks.
- Improvements in education are empirically linked to large potential income gains.
- Demographic context (young population, high fertility rate) increases the urgency of education improvements.
- Education systems face vulnerabilities to climate and health shocks that can undermine outcomes.
Policy recommendations and areas for reform
- Explore options to enhance education quality.
- Safeguard spending related to education to preserve and expand services.
- Close gender gaps in education access and outcomes.
- Improve the resilience of education systems to climate and health shocks.
Role of regional coordination
- Beyond national efforts, regional coordination and cooperation are emphasized as crucial to achieving better education outcomes across the WAEMU.
Subject areas and keywords highlighted
- Subjects: Education, Education spending, Expenditure, Gender, Gender inequality, Job training, Labor, Population and demographics.
- Keywords: B. education outcome, economic development, education, education in the WAEMU, Education outcome, Education spending, Gender inequality, Global, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, Job training, policy option, Potential GDP gain, WAEMU, West African Economic and Monetary Union.
Education in the WAEMU: Current Situation and the Way Forward — Can Sever, June 6, 2025.
Content in this bundle
- Sipea2025074