Africa: Higher Education Must Be Higher Priority

opinion

"In 2011, the average gross rate of tertiary education enrolment in Africa was 8% against a world average of 27%. Even with those low figures, demand for university admission continues to exceed capacity, and public universities are under increasing pressure to admit more students than current staff and infrastructure would allow. ... [even so] In most African countries, the increase in tertiary enrolment has not translated into a comparable improvement in employment opportunities. ... Indeed, there are growing complaints by employers that graduates are poorly prepared for the workplace." - Concept paper for African Higher Education Summit

The African Higher Education Summit, held in Dakar on March 10-12, clearly marks a new level of consensus on the need to give much higher priority to the higher education sector, and in particular its significance for economic development. The range of participants was impressive, both from the higher education sector itself and from government, philanthropic and multilateral agencies. The speeches and conference documents outline a wide-ranging and ambitious agenda.

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