With the expectation that one in four young African students—or 66 million—will be enrolled in a private school by 2021, the potential for investment and impact in the sector has “rarely been greater,” a new report declares.

The report, from the investment and advisory firm Caerus Capital, notes that the huge demographic shift in the continent, rapid urbanization, the increased use of technology, and the emergence of a middle class has amplified the role of private education throughout the continent. African governments should formulate policy frameworks and public-private partnerships that would expand access to and improve quality at these institutions, the firm suggests.

Across Africa, the researchers found, 21% of children and young people currently in school are enrolled in a private educational entity. These include for-profit, charitable, non-governmental, faith-based, and community-managed institutions, providing services including primary and secondary education; technical and vocational training; and supplementary after-school or language tutoring.

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