The Global Human Capital Report 2017, by the World Economic Forum, has placed Kenya among the top 5 African countries in human skills development.
The report used 4 parameters to measure the development of skills and know-how in 130 countries:
- Capacity – level of formal education
- Deployment – application of skills
- Development – formal education of workforce
- Know-how – breadth and depth of skills
Findings in these 4 categories were then used to come up with an index scaled between 0 and 100%. Further, the performances were also measured across the five demographic age groups: 0-14, 15-24, 25-54, 55-64 and 65 and over. 58% of Kenyans are below the age of 24.
Kenya’s performance
Kenya was found to rank highly in human capital deployment, scoring 73.12%. This was attributed to the large “stock of know-how in medium-skilled employment sector.”
Kenya also ranked fairly well, by African standards, in capacity of human capital due to its “comparatively strong education quality” and high literacy rate.
READ: 4 LESSONS FOR KENYA FROM THE BEST COUNTRY FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
As for development and know-how, of human capital, Kenya recorded percentage scores in the 50s. Pretty sad. This score was mirrored in the rest of Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East. The report faulted obsession with exploiting cheap labor, as a pillar of economic policy, for this.
Top 5 in Africa
Our overall score was 59.48%, below the 62% global average, and our rank was 78 out of the 130 countries featured. Kenya was ranked well ahead of continental economic rivals, South Africa (87), Egypt (97), Nigeria (114) and Morocco (118).
Rwanda (71), Ghana (72), Cameroon (73) and Mauritius (74) were the 4 African countries ahead of Kenya. The number one country in the world was Norway, with an overall score of 77%. Finland, Switzerland, USA and Denmark complete the global top 5.
Kenya has begun the process of reforming its education system. Once effected, this should reflect in this, and other similar reports, in future.