Education systems across the Global South are facing a growing paradox: rapid expansion in access to schooling is not translating into commensurate employment opportunities, leading to a surge in educated unemployment and underemployment. The concern was highlighted in an open letter published Monday by Dr. Opul Joseph, a lecturer at Gulu University in Uganda, addressed to education ministers across Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Dr. Joseph’s letter argues that education, traditionally seen as a pathway out of poverty, may be inadvertently “planting, marinating poverty and unemployment” in developing nations. He points to estimates indicating that over 259 million young people globally are classified as NEET – Not in Employment, Education, or Training – with the vast majority residing in the Global South.
The expansion of education in recent decades is undeniable. Enrollment rates have risen dramatically, with Sub-Saharan Africa seeing a tenfold increase in university students since the early 1990s, and significant growth in higher education institutions in countries like India, Indonesia, Brazil, and Mexico. However, economic structures have not kept pace, leaving millions of graduates competing for a limited number of jobs.
This disparity manifests in high rates of youth unemployment, often two to three times higher than adult unemployment, particularly in developing regions. A significant portion of workers in Sub-Saharan Africa (approximately 82%) and Latin America (around 56%) are engaged in informal employment, lacking job security and stable incomes. Similar trends are observed in developing Asia, where 73% of workers are in informal employment.
The issue extends beyond simply a lack of jobs. A phenomenon termed “credential inflation,” or “diploma disease,” is taking hold, where employers increasingly require higher academic qualifications for positions that previously did not necessitate them. This leads to underemployment, with graduates taking jobs below their skill level. Surveys indicate that three out of four young adults in Sub-Saharan Africa are in insecure or informal employment despite having completed secondary or tertiary education.
Dr. Joseph’s letter emphasizes the need to reimagine education systems, shifting the focus from simply expanding enrollment to prioritizing relevance, quality, and alignment with labor market needs. He advocates for integrating practical technical, vocational education, and entrepreneurial skills into curricula, with assessment metrics tied to business startups, job creation, and community impact.
Efforts to address these challenges are underway. In November 2023, education ministers from the Global South convened to discuss bridging the digital divide and improving access to technology for education and skill development, according to reports from theeducationdaily.com. India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, has championed the cause of the Global South, advocating for shared prosperity and growth, as highlighted during the 2nd Voice of Global South Summit in 2023. Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, India’s Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, chaired the Education Ministers’ Session at the summit.
Dr. Joseph, through his Quality Education Consultancy Ltd (QECL) and OPUL Skilling Foundation Africa (OSFA), has set a long-term ambition to facilitate 20 million business start-ups, accelerations, innovations, and create 40 million decent jobs by 2035. He argues that education must be viewed as a “medicine to poverty and unemployment,” requiring targeted policy action and inclusive economic growth strategies to unlock its transformative potential.
