Aspiration #6 Every child benefits fully from quality education. Education is central to enhancing a child’s full potential. The lack of education is a life sentence of poverty and exclusion. The African Children’s Charter recognises the right to education of all children (article 11). Education is a key component of Africa’s development agenda. An assessment of the First Decade of Education for Africa (1997-2006) revealed that ‘most of the goals’ were not achieved. Against this background, member States reaffirmed their commitment to implement the goals of the Second Decade of Education in Africa, 2006-2015 and the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 2016-2025). Over this period, some significant gains were registered. The primary school enrolment rate in sub-Saharan Africa grew from 52 per cent in 1990 to 78 per cent in 2012. However, the dramatic increase in enrolment has not been equalled at the secondary level. Also with a 67 percent primary completion rate, Africa is still far from achieving primary completion rates for all by 2015. Factors influencing these percentages need to be researched by States in order to determine the cause and to remedy the situation at the root of the problem. Although the demand for and supply of secondary and higher education have increased, albeit less dramatically than at primary level, the good results in terms of quality and learning outcomes do not meet the needs of the labour market. Many learners do not find employment when they finish school. Many children are at risk of not developing to their full potential due to the lack of early stimulation and exposure to stress at an early age. Improved nutrition and stimulation in the early years increases the efficiency of investments in health and education, thus improving the economic opportunities of children and youth in later life. Education should, therefore, be relevant to its particular context to meet the needs of the labour market. In many parts of Africa, private actors increasingly provide education, giving rise to problems of inferior education due to a lack of regulatory oversight. Education is a public good, of which the quality has to be assured. States should curb the unregulated rise of private actors in education, as a failure to effectively regulate may compromise the quality of education and lead to the exploitation of children. 18