Findings highlight the potential of education to foster stronger, more accountable political institutions.
Abstract
This paper investigates how education shapes public attitudes toward transparent and accountable governance in Africa. Much of the research on governance and education has focused on Western contexts, leaving the African perspective underexplored. Afrobarometer surveys show that many Africans consistently support transparent and accountable governance, with growing education and awareness of anti-corruption efforts across the continent. Yet little is known about how education influences support for good governance. We investigate this using data from Afrobarometer Round 9 surveys conducted in 39 African countries between late 2021 and mid-2023. Our results show the significant role of education in shaping attitudes: Both greater access to education and country-level measures of higher educational attainment are associated with increased support for good governance. Finally, we highlight the opportunities that arise from this relationship
Nnaemeka Ohamadike Nnaemeka Ohamadike is a data analyst and researcher in the Governance Insights and Analytics programme at Good Governance Africa.
Stuart Morrison Stuart Morrison is a data analyst and researcher in the Governance Insights and Analytics programme at Good Governance Africa