By Andrew Christian
Africa has the fastest-growing middle class in the world, especially in the Sub-Saharan region. Coupled with the set-to-boom population, this means that the continent’s demands for higher education could be in for some exponential rise in the years to come.
Over the last 15 years, the number of students studying in Sub-Saharan Africa went from 2.25 million to 6.34 million. This has led to an increase in investor confidence in the sector.
To attend a high school in the United States cost about USD 7,750. But the average cost per year in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania combined is about USD 650. This means that 12 children can get educated in East Africa for the price of one student in America. In some areas in Africa, a girl can go to a high school for as little as USD 500.
Per a new research by the International Schools Database, Cape Town offers the cheapest in Africa. While the most expensive international education in the world is in China, the report reveals that the Middle East and Africa are the most affordable in the world. 4 of the 10 cheapest cities in the research are from the continent.
The survey says that the Ugandan capital, Kampala, is home to the least expensive price for international education in the world. With just USD 523 year, the city comes before Phnom Penh and Addis Ababa.
To support, data from 17 of the 29 universities in Uganda reveals that there are currently about 16,000 international students in the East African country’s universities, from a grand population of around 200,000 students. The data shows a year-on-year rise in numbers.
Nairobi is the most expensive city in Africa for elite schools. The fees in the East African city hit USD 28,479 per year, thanks to the growing demand for international education. Out of the 6 African cities considered in the study, the Kenyan capital had the highest average fee, rivaled only by Cairo – whose price stands just under the USD 25 K mark.
New players have been attracted to the lucrative private education segments in Kenya. High returns have also inspired more interest from investment firms such as Fanisi Capital and AfricInvest.
Meanwhile, the minimum prices of international schools in Manama, Bahrain, is US$1,003 per year, US$1,046 for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; US$1,085 and US$2,181 for Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa.
