Madagascar's Education Crisis: A System on the Edge

• Madagascar's education system faces a 20-year crisis characterized by poor infrastructure, a severe teacher shortage, and inadequate learning environments.
• Only 25 percent of children read proficiently upon finishing primary school, with completion rates far below the global average.
• Higher education is plagued by unpaid salaries and systemic neglect, contributing to the political unrest that led to the October 2025 impeachment of Andry Rajoelina.
• Graduates struggle with high unemployment and pervasive nepotism, driving a significant 'brain drain' as skilled youth migrate abroad.

Broken Foundations

• World Bank data for 2025 shows primary school completion rates at 66.6% for girls and 60.6% for boys, compared to the global average of 88.3%.
• Tertiary education gross enrollment is only 6%.
• Public schools rely heavily on FRAM (parent-association-funded) teachers, who represent 60% of the workforce; most lack formal training.
• Annual natural disasters destroy 1,000–2,000 classrooms, and the state invests only 2.8–3% of GDP in education, well below regional averages.

Strain on Higher Education

• Approximately 70% of university faculty are non-civil servants often facing months of unpaid salaries, leading to repeated course suspensions.
• Demonstrations occurred in May 2024 at public universities regarding delayed scholarships and crumbling infrastructure, including unsafe dorms and water supply issues.
• Rapid campus expansion is prioritizing access over quality, with new sites lacking necessary labs and libraries.

Employment and Corruption

• Youth ages 15–30 account for 70% of the unemployed, often working jobs far outside their fields due to experience requirements and nepotism.
• Transparency International ranked Madagascar 140th out of 180 countries in the 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index.
• Issues such as illegal school fees, exam paper sales, and sexual misconduct are frequently reported in the education sector.

Pathways Forward

• Experts prioritize increasing education funding to meet global standards and formalizing the roles of qualified FRAM teachers.
• Higher education requires improved faculty support, consistent salary payments, and enhanced research capacity.
• Urgent reform is necessary to transform education into a driver of GDP growth and national prosperity.