The Changing Role of Higher Education in Africa: 'A Historical Reflection'

Canadian Center of Science and Education. 1120 Finch Avenue West Suite 701-309, Toronto, OH M3J 3H7, Canada. Tel: 416-642-2606; Fax: 416-642-2608; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/hes

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11

Role of Education; Higher Education; Economic Development; Knowledge Economy; Foreign Countries; Educational History; Ideology; Educational Policy; Socioeconomic Influences; Foreign Policy; Educational Change; Relevance (Education)

1925-4741

This article addresses the changing role of higher education in Africa from the pre-colonial time up to the 1990s. The basic argument is, though higher education institutions are a product of socio-economic and political dynamics of the society in the course of history, these interactions have always been imperfect in Africa since universities did not originally evolve out of social interactions. The introduction of European education during colonial period also did not serve the interests of African societies; instead education was used as a means of extending colonial ideology. After independence, African countries inherited fragile institutions which did not have social legitimacy from the public. The donor-client dependency relationship had inhibited the development of African institutions and the capacity of Africans to develop educational policies which are socially relevant and financially feasible. Thus, higher education institutions in Africa have been carrying out various roles of economic development, Africanization, nation-building, and engines of knowledge economy; at the same time executing foreign roles which have not been owned by African societies.

As Provided

33

2015

EJ1079222