Across Africa there is a major shortage of educational books catering for younger children right through to college students. For example, a recent UNESCO study showed that in Cameroon twelve students share just one reading book. In parts of Uganda there are as many as 30 pupils sharing one textbook. Such figures mean that so many children are seriously missing out on their education.
Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates of education exclusion. Over one-fifth of children between the ages of about 6 and 11 are out of school, followed by one-third of youth between the ages of about 12 and 14. According to UNESCO, almost 60% of youth between the ages of about 15 and 17 are not in school. Without urgent action, the situation will likely get worse as the region faces a rising demand for education due to a still-growing school-age population.
In the UK the Ihezie Foundation, a registered charity, is taking active and urgent steps to address these issues by donating hundreds of thousands of much needed text books throughout Africa. The Ihezie Foundation relies on the support of businesses and other UK organisations to provide these books which are then carefully sorted by the staff and volunteers at the charity before being distributed to schools, colleges and libraries in both this country and Africa.