'We're losing our scientists': west Africa's STEM struggle
Summary
West African countries are seeing fewer students choose science streams, with Ivory Coast's elite maths-and-physics track shrinking to just 0.6 percent of baccalaureate candidates in 2022. Officials blame weak funding, too few teachers and labs, and limited job prospects as governments try new measures to revive science education.
Key Points
- Interest in science is declining across west Africa, including Ivory Coast, Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Senegal and Niger.
- In Ivory Coast, only 0.6 percent of baccalaureate candidates were on the elite maths-and-physics track in 2022, while 38 percent chose the broader sciences stream.
- Officials cite underinvestment, a lack of teachers and equipment, and poor career prospects as major reasons students avoid science.
- Governments are launching awareness campaigns, science schools and science hubs to reverse the trend and reduce brain drain.
