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This report focuses on the role of secondary education in ensuring youth acquire the skills, knowledge, and competencies necessary to succeed in a dynamic and globalized labour market, where trends of digitalization and automation are on the rise. Drawing on a wide range of research conducted by scholars in Africa and globally, the Secondary Education in Africa report examines progress and provides policymakers and other education stakeholders with examples of promising practices from across the region and beyond as they seek ways to improve access to quality, relevant secondary education. It examines factors that facilitate reform and innovation at all levels of the education system. The report is not intended to be a blueprint. Rather, its objective is to highlight the urgency of the need to improve education systems and to contribute to the dialogue on how to ensure Africa benefits from the potential of its growing population of young people.

We hope this report supports policymakers, the private sector, educators, philanthropists, and young people themselves to envision secondary education in a post-COVID-19 world and to consider actionable recommendations for getting there. By providing evidence on promising practices across a range of areas, such as curriculum reform, teacher training, flexible approaches, and innovations in financing, we trust these examples of positive change and sustained progress, by Africans and for Africans, will light the way.

Mastercard Foundation Team: Laurie Armstrong, Mallory Baxter, Barry Burciul, Ashley Collier, Steve Cumming, Jamie Farshchi, Hélène Grégoire, Phuong Hoang, Kim Kerr, Peter Materu, Karen Meyer, Karen Moore, Nafis Muntasir, Milena Novy-Marx, Reeta Roy, Rebecca Stoneman, Mary Tangelder, Toni Tiemens, Lindsay Wallace, Tricia Williams, Samuel Yalew Adela, and Nura Yunus |  Overseas Development Institute: Rachel Marcus, Sophia D'Angelo, Stephen Gelb, Susan Nicolai, Paolo Pereznieto, and Joseph Wales |  Fab Inc.: Paul Atherton, Alasdair Mackintosh, and Maria Jose Ogando Portela