Cape Verde Basic Education Completion Hits 10-Year Low
Cape Verde is facing a significant setback in its educational goals, as the completion rate for basic education dropped to 84.1% for the 2023/2024 academic year. According to data released today by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), this marks the lowest level recorded since the current tracking series began a decade ago.
A Downward Trend in Basic Education
The latest report on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlights a concerning trajectory for the archipelago. While basic education historically maintained high levels of success, the transition and completion rate has steadily retreated from its 2014/2015 high of 90.7% to the current 84.1%.
“The main conclusion is that Basic Education presents higher levels but on a downward trajectory, while Secondary Education reveals limited gains and greater volatility,” the report states.
Secondary Education Struggles to Maintain Momentum
The outlook for secondary education is equally complex. While the completion rate has seen a slight long-term increase—rising from 62.8% in 2014/2015 to 64.7% in 2023/2024—recent years show a loss of momentum. The sector peaked in 2020/2021 with a 78.7% completion rate, but the INE warns that the educational system failed to consolidate those gains, resulting in a decline over the last two academic years.
The Gender Gap Persists
The data continues to show a significant performance gap between genders. Girls consistently outperform boys across all levels of schooling. In basic education, the completion rate for girls stands at 90.3% compared to 78.6% for boys. In secondary education, the gap is narrower but still present, with 66.1% of girls completing their studies compared to 62.7% of boys.
Progress on Poverty Amid Educational Hurdles
The report, which tracks Cape Verde’s progress toward the 2030 SDG targets, offered a brighter note regarding economic indicators. The proportion of the population living below the international poverty line has been halved, dropping from 4.6% in 2015 to 2.3% in 2022.
However, the decline in educational completion poses a challenge to SDG 4, which aims to ensure that all children and youth receive a free, equitable, and quality education by 2030. As one of the United Nations’ 17 major goals, education is considered a cornerstone for achieving long-term social and economic stability.
Image: Pexels – Katerina Holmes
