Empowering quality education through sustainable and equitable electricity access in African schools

Although most people born this century will be educated in African schools, these schools often lack basic infrastructure, such as electricity and/or lighting. In the face of a rapidly growing school-age population in Africa, the electrification of educational facilities is not just an infrastructural challenge but also a pivotal investment in the continent’s future workforce.

Citation:
Moner-Girona M, Fahl F, Kakoulaki G, ……. Weiss DJ. Empowering quality education through sustainable and equitable electricity access in African schools. Joule. 2025

Keywords:
education; electricity access; internet connectivity; clean cooking; accessibility; solar PV; sustainable development; Sub-Saharan Africa; geospatial analysis; deep-learning

Abstract:
Although most people born this century will be educated in African schools, these schools often lack basic infrastructure, such as electricity and/or lighting. In the face of a rapidly growing school-age population in Africa, the electrification of educational facilities is not just an infrastructural challenge but also a pivotal investment in the continent’s future workforce.