I’m guessing that most Americans have no idea how crushing the global teacher shortage is for students in the developing world. This fact sheet, circulated and discussed widely at UNESCO’s World Teachers’ Day event, is stunning.
Some facts that standout for me:
• 6.8 million teachers are needed in developing countries by 2015 if university primary education is to be possible. Sixty percent of the teachers are needed in sub-Saharan Africa.
• In the Central African Republic, there are 84 students per teacher. That’s quadruple the average for OECD nations (like the USA).
• 61 million primary school-age children are out of school around the world, and nearly half will never enter school at any time in their lives.