African Education in the Age of Student Revolt

Abstract

There has been a decline in the quality of university education in the African countries as a result of swelling enrolments and shrinking budgetary allocations. The decline is further compounded by disrupted learning processes due to frequent closures of educational institutions following student protest activity against the decline and in pursuit of more open and democratic forms of government in the African countries.

This decline in the quality of university education, occurring at the same time as enforced political conformity and ensuing demoralization of faculty, is quickly reducing African universities into facades of learning, ironically, when high societal expectations of universities are at an all time high.

Given the centrality of schooling for upward mobility in African societies, such a decline in standards can only perpetuate the vicious circle of student protest activity, government reaction, interrupted learning processes and, thus, further decline.