Is “cost-effectiveness” the right answer for Africa’s school crisis?
By Precious Ebere-Chinonso Obi
In many African countries, including Nigeria, there is a constant crisis in education. Schools often don’t have enough money for teachers, books, or classrooms. Because of this, leaders and international donors are always looking for the “best value for money.”
They are using a tool called Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA). This is a fancy term for comparing different programs to see which one gives the best results for the lowest cost.
On the surface, this seems like a perfect solution. But is it? While this focus on cost-saving is understandable, it is also short-sighted. It can solve some immediate problems but create much bigger ones for the future.
Why “cost-effectiveness” is so popular
Let’s look at the situation in Africa, especially Nigeria:
● Millions of children are not in school.
● In Nigeria, about 70% of 10-year-olds cannot read a simple story. This is called “learning poverty.” When the problem is this big, you want solutions that work fast and don’t cost a fortune. Cost-effectiveness analysis helps find these solutions.
For example, studies have shown that:
● Giving teachers a simple, structured lesson plan is cheap and can improve test scores.
● Using tablets or phones for extra lessons is a low-cost way to help children learn.
So, the normal way of thinking is: “We have a small budget. Let’s spend it on what helps the most children, the fastest.” This logic makes sense when you are in a crisis.
The hidden danger of only looking at cost
The problem is that this focus on cheap, fast results can hurt the education system in the long run. Here’s how:
1. It values what can be measured, not what matters most.
Cost-effectiveness analysis loves data. It focuses on things that are easy to measure, like a child’s reading speed or math score. But what about the things that are hard to measure?
● Can a child think critically and tell if a news story is true or false?
● Does she have creativity to solve new problems?
● Is he learning about ethics and good citizenship?
These skills are the most important for a country’s future. But because they are not easy to put on a chart, they are often ignored. We risk creating a generation of children who can read but can’t think.
2. It chooses short-term wins over long-term strength
It is cheaper to give a teacher a script to read than it is to train a truly great, knowledgeable teacher. The first option shows quick results. The second option takes years and costs more money.
But which is better for the country in 20 years? A teacher who just follows a script, or a professional who can inspire students? Nigeria’s current struggle with poorly trained and motivated teachers is a direct result of years of choosing the cheap, short-term option.
3. It can make inequality worse.
The cheapest programs often help the children who are easiest to reach. What about children with disabilities, children in remote villages, or children who don’t speak the main language? Helping them often requires more expensive, specialized programs. If we only fund what is “cost-effective,” we leave the most vulnerable children behind.
The situation in Nigeria: A clear example
Nigeria has some programs that use this cost-effective approach, and they do some good. But the country’s main education system is still weak. There is a lack of good infrastructure, and teachers are often underpaid.
Trying to fix this with a few cheap, donor-funded projects is like putting a small bandage on a large wound. It might help one spot, but it doesn’t heal the body. The real need is to fix the whole system, which requires significant and sustained investment.
A better way forward
So, what should we do? We shouldn’t throw away the idea of cost-effectiveness completely. Instead, we should use it more wisely.
1. Decide the purpose of education. We must first agree: what is school for? Is it just to pass tests, or is it to create thoughtful, innovative, and responsible citizens? Once we agree on this bigger goal, we can use cost-effectiveness to find the best ways to achieve that goal.
2. Invest in the “expensive” stuff. We must be brave enough to spend money on what truly matters, even if it’s not cheap. This includes training high-quality teachers, building libraries and science labs, and supporting arts and sports.
3. Measure what truly matters. We need to find ways to track and value creativity, critical thinking, and citizenship, not just test scores.
Conclusion
The money crisis in African education is real. It is tempting to only choose the cheapest, fastest solutions. But this is a mistake.
If we focus only on cost, we will build a school system that is cheap but empty. It will produce students who can pass exams but cannot lead, innovate, or solve the complex problems facing our continent.
For Nigeria and Africa, the answer is not to just save money. The answer is to spend money wisely on a complete and powerful education system that will build a better future for all.
