In public schools across six countries, approximately 20 percent of teachers were absent on a typical school day, on average. Furthermore, even when present, teachers often did not engage in…

Shwetlena Sabarwal, Surayya Masood |

In seven East Asia and Pacific (EAP) countries, policymakers prioritize secondary school completion over basic learning quality, while underestimating the levels of learning poverty. This…

Noah Yarrow, Rythia Afkar, Paul Cahu, Mary E. Breeding |

According to UNESCO, over 19.3 million adolescent girls of upper secondary school age are out of school in SSA and for those who make it to upper secondary school, studying Science, Technology…

Alice Amegah, Ekua Nuama Bentil, Eunice Yaa Brimfah Ackwerh, Maria Barron |

Good teachers are the most important driver of learning. Through the GALOP project, Ghana is empowering teachers with a structured program, providing them with lesson plans, learning materials,…

Anna Bjerde |

In 2021, the World Bank in Ghana conducted a portfolio risk assessment on child labor and learned that the high national prevalence of child labor, poses a challenge to operations. The World Bank…

Nneka Okereke, Anna Nordenmark Severinsson, Abdulai Darimani, Esther Bea |

Imagine a world where every girl and woman and can manage her periods with dignity and without hindering her education, health, sense of self-esteem, social mobility, and economic opportunities.…

Saroj Kumar Jha, Hana Brixi, Jaime Saavedra, Thorsten Kiefer |

When education is relevant to real-world situations, it can be a powerful tool for reshaping the continent's climate and economic landscape. Reforming the education systems should begin by…

Timothy Dziedzom Amaglo-Mensah, Eliane Mbende |

Investments in human capital will be affected by climate change, and like every sector of the economy, the education sector will need to adjust. This blog analyses alternatives for adapting…

Patrick Behrer, Alaka Holla |

This blog is a biweekly feature highlighting recent working papers from around the World Bank Group. It introduces 4 papers published from December 1-15 on various topics, including the impact of…

Marcelo Buitron, Policy Research Working Paper team |

Marital power – the husband’s ability to have his will prevail – has long lingered in South Africa. A recently published Women, Business and the Law brief details the pioneering efforts of South…

Nisha Arekapudi, Natália Mazoni Silva Martins |