Education in Africa

Education is a fundamental right, yet for many children in Africa, particularly in rural areas like The Gambia, access to quality education remains a significant challenge. 

The Gambia's National Education Policy (2016–2030) aspires to  a unified basic education system from grades 1 to 9 with the  aim of increasing enrolment across the country, but there are many challenges. My Gambia

The Stark Reality of Education in Sub-Saharan Africa

  • High Out-of-School Rates: Over 20% of children aged 6 to 11 and nearly 60% of  15 to 17 year olds in sub-Saharan Africa are not enrolled in school.
    My Gambia

  • Resource Deficiencies: Many schools lack essential resources such as textbooks, adequate classrooms, and trained teachers, severely hindering learning outcomes. My Gambia
Pupils at Jofi Modern School eating lunch

Challenges in The Gambia

Education Challenges Amplified in The Gambia

Despite policy efforts, The Gambia faces significant educational challenges:

  • Out-of-School Children: Approximately 18% of primary-school-age children are not enrolled in school.
    My Gambia

  • Literacy Rates: The adult literacy rate stands at about 50%, with notable gender disparities: 61.8% for males and just 41.6% for females.
    Access Gambia

  • Transition to Secondary Education: The transition rate from primary to lower secondary education is around 65%, indicating that 35% of students do not continue their education beyond primary school.
    Access Gambia

  • Teacher Shortages: The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio in primary schools is approximately 45:1, highlighting a significant shortage of trained educators. Access Gambia
Affinity Vision founder Chris Bialan

Making a Difference

These statistics underscore the urgent need for intervention, a cause that Chris Bialan, CEO of Affinity Vision, is passionately addressing.

A Personal Mission to Make a Difference

"Jofi School is an inspiring initiative making strides toward bridging the education gap. I created Affinity Vision to support the school and help transform lives in The Gambia. Education is the key to freedom, opportunity, and a better future," says Chris.

Before founding Affinity Vision, Chris personally funded several key projects for Jofi School, including:

  • Sponsoring over 170 children.
  • Installing a borehole to provide clean water.
  • Building a new secondary school, enabling students to continue their education beyond Grade 6.

The most recent milestone was completing the building of the Jofi Secondary school. Affinity Vision is now seeking new sponsors to help ensure even more children can attend Jofi School.

Pay it Forward

Ways to Support Jofi School 

Affinity Vision’s ‘pay it forward’ approach enables direct support for Jofi School through various sponsorship packages:

  • Sponsor a Child: Directly support a child’s education by covering their tuition, materials, and other needs.

  • School Supplies: Donations provide essential items such as textbooks, exercise books, and stationery.

  • Home Economics Equipment: Contributions provide equipment  like baking tins, jars, and utensils for the food science program.

Join Affinity Vision in Improving Education in Africa

The need for educational support in Africa—and particularly in The Gambia—is vast. Affinity Vision’s mission goes beyond funding education; it’s about fostering sustainable growth, empowerment, and hope.

By supporting Jofi School, donors play a direct role in transforming lives, building stronger communities, and shaping a future where every child has access to quality education.

Your contribution to Jofi School is more than a donation—it’s an investment in a brighter future for The Gambia and Africa as a whole. Together, we can make a difference.