Twelve Cameroonian Students For One Book

One textbook per pupil in sub-Saharan African countries would increase literacy scores by between 5% and 20%, the study says (Image credit: UNESCO)

Pupils in the poorest countries are suffering from a lack of basic textbooks, according to a report from a United Nations agency.

BBC Africa Live report continues:

The study from UNESCO gives examples such as reading books in Cameroon being shared between 12 students.

The report is calling for a more centralized buying system which would make them more affordable.

"Next to a good teacher, well-designed textbooks in sufficient quantities are the most effective way to improve students' learning," says Aaron Benavot, director of UNESCO's Global Education Monitoring Report.

The report warns that rising numbers of pupils in countries such as Kenya, Malawi and Namibia are making textbooks even scarcer.

Some governments use less than 1% of education budgets on books, it says.