Many African governments allocate substantial proportions of their scarce resources to the expansion of educational facilities in their countries. The growing demand for formal education in Africa is stimulated to a great extent by the almost pathetic popular belief in the magical qualities of education as a key to social and economic advancement. This article first provides a broad overview of some of the prevailing perceptions about the relationship between education and development. Next, attention is given to some of the most pressing problems confronting African governments in the field of formal education. The article concludes with a survey of educational alternatives that have either been suggested or actually employed by African States in their attempts to ensure that all members of their societies obtain access to at least some of the benefits of education. Note, ref.
