| dc.description.abstract | Education has always been a key priority area for all development agendas and as such
is a crucial tenet of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Indeed, education is
considered one of the most significant human capital investments (Benos & Zotou,
2014). This is because of the vital role education plays in enhancing human capital
and global development. For example, educating girls and women results in delayed
marriage and childbearing, low fertility, improved child nutrition, better incomes and
greater decision making power within relationships (Gakidou, Cowling, Lozano, &
Murray, 2010; UNESCO, 2011, 2013). A study of HIV prevalence among young women
in South African found that young women who had completed high school were less
likely to be infected with HIV compared with those that had not completed high school
(Pettifor et al., 2008). Furthermore, some studies also indicate that education is one
of the most important factors affecting bed net use and consequently prevalence of
malaria. For instance a study in the Democratic Republic of Congo demonstrated that
the education level of the family head of household was associated with bed net use
among family members in the surveyed villages (Ndjinga & Minakawa, 2010). However,
this is only possible if education fosters the right knowledge, skills, attitudes and
behavior that conforms to modern demands and realities of countries and different
contexts (UNESCO, 2016). The same sentiments on the importance of relevant
education also underlies the guiding principle of the Continental Education Strategy
for Africa 2016-2025, which emphasizes the establishment of a holistic, inclusive and
equitable education as the core of sustainable development. | en_US |
