Africa
Catholic Church urged to help more as education costs in Africa rise
Across Africa, Catholic schools like the Uganda Martyrs School in Kampala, have long been a pillar of affordable but high-quality education, especially for poor families.
Their appeal remains strong even with competition from other non-governmental investors now eying schools as enterprises for profit.
The growing trend toward privatisation is sparking concern that the Catholic Church may price out the people who need uplifting.
Schools run by the Catholic Church are not usually registered as profit-making entities, but those who run them say they would not be competitive if they operated merely as charities.
They say they face the same maintenance costs as others in the field and offer scholarships to exceptional students.
“A school like this one, it has several cost centres,” Vincent Ssegane, director of studies in charge of examinations at Uganda Martyrs school.
“Look at the wage bill, for the teachers, feeding the students, maintaining these infrastructures, it is enormous. So, I think that one explains that rise and, of course, like you are intimating, the rising cost of living and the hiking prices.”
“The rate of inflation has an impact, great impact on the cost of education because education is a service,” he added.
Tuition at the school was once as high as $800 but has since dropped to about $600 as enrolment doubled to nearly 5,000, according to the school’s deputy headmaster.
Across the region, the Catholic Church has built a reputation as a key provider of formal education in areas often underserved by the state.
Its schools are cherished by families of all means for their values, discipline, and academic success.
Richard Kizito, a metal worker in Kampala whose four children attend Catholic schools, said the emerging risk for traditional Catholic schools is that they will cater only for the rich.
“Formerly we used to not pay fees, especially when I was young,” he recalled, saying he remembered “going for free, receiving books for free, pens and pencils for free”.
But now, parents are being priced out and unable to put their children in Catholic schools, Kizito said.
“It is not because they don’t want, they want, but they cannot afford,” he said speaking about other parents.
“Because of the challenge of fees I cannot manage all the school fees for all my kids,” he added.
Kizito’s sentiment about the schools founded by the Catholic Church, known for their dedication to serving poor communities in Africa, mirrors wider complaints by others.
Many say the Church, as the largest non-governmental investor in education in sub-Saharan Africa, is not doing enough to ease the pressure faced by lots of families.
The growing trend towards privatisation is sparking concerns that it may be drifting from its mission and pricing poorer children out of its schools.
Costs are a main reasons why many children do not complete their schooling, with sub-Saharan Africa having the world’s highest dropout rate.
Gabon has been restored to full membership of the Commonwealth following the country’s recent presidential election.
The association made the announcement on Tuesday, following a meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group.
Gabon was partially suspended from the 56-nation group in September 2023, a month after the elected government of Ali Bongo Ondimba was ousted in a coup.
In April this year, coup leader Brice Oligui Nguema won the presidential election with almost 95 percent of the vote.
The Commonwealth ruled the poll was credible, transparent and inclusive and decided to lift Gabon’s partial suspension.
The CMAG welcomed Gabon’s return to constitutional democracy and reiterated its condemnation of any unconstitutional overthrow of a duly elected government, stressing that “such action violates the democratic principles at the heart of the Commonwealth and is a serious breach of the Commonwealth Charter.”
It said Gabon would remain on the group’s agenda as it works towards fulfilling its obligations under the Commonwealth Charter.
Rooted in the British Empire, the Commonwealth is now open to all countries. Togo and Gabon are the newest members, both joining in 2022.
Summer in Saïdia, often called the “Blue Pearl of the Mediterranean”, is a vibrant mix of sun, sea and serenity.
Situated in north-east Morocco, close to the Algerian border, Saïdia is renowned for its 14 kilometres of golden sandy beaches stretching out over calm turquoise waters.
From June to September, the town is bustling with locals and international visitors eager to enjoy its Mediterranean charm, gentle sea breezes and lively atmosphere.
“A lot of us come to Saïdia, a lot of people from the east come because it’s beautiful, and people from all over Morocco come here too,” says one young man on his way to the beach.
The seafront promenade, lined with cafés, restaurants and family resorts, becomes the heart of summer evenings. As the sun sets, the smell of grilled seafood fills the air and music blares from the terraces where families and friends gather.
For those seeking adventure, Saïdia offers much more than just sunbathing. Water sports such as jet skiing, banana boating and sailing are popular daytime activities. Inland, you can explore the Moulouya National Park, a haven for birds and nature lovers.
US President Donald Trump is ramping up his tariff agenda, announcing plans to impose new duties of over 10 percent on imports from smaller nations, including several in Africa and the Caribbean. The move marks a sharp shift in US trade policy, aimed at what Trump describes as “reciprocal” treatment.
Several African countries are already preparing for steep increases. Lesotho, a small Southern African nation, could face tariffs as high as 50 percent on goods exported to the United States. While the tariffs are currently on hold during a three-month consultation period, concerns are rising over the long-term economic fallout.
“These are countries. Many of them, you know, like 200 countries,” Trump said in response to questions about which nations would be affected. “We’ll probably set one tariff for all of them.”
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick supported the move, saying the President plans to handle small nations in the way he believes is most effective. “The Caribbean countries, African countries. There are a lot of them,” Lutnick said.
The World Trade Organization is urging the United States to reconsider. WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has called for African countries to be exempt from the proposed tariffs, warning that such actions could severely damage developing economies and undo years of progress.
As the consultation period unfolds, both affected countries and international trade bodies are calling for dialogue. They hope to avoid a new wave of economic instability, especially for vulnerable economies dependent on exports.
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