African universitite in the 21st century

Whenever one is chanced to talk to academics that belong to the 20th century, you are told that standards in the world of academia in the 21st century are falling on a daily basis. The conviction here is that the products of the universities do not measure up to societal expectations.  They are not casting blame on the capacity of the service providers neither the students, but in actual fact they are saying that institutions responsible for providing the direction are no longer on a sound footing. The university is the highest place of discrimination and it is not meant for all because you are a citizen of a country. Therefore recruitment into the university, be you a tutor or a student should be formalized and procedures observed accordingly.

African Universities are been informalised to a great extent that local factors in terms of recruitments negate official protocols and procedures. This has raised some kind of ugly situations in which admission rules are bypass in the interests of family or clan connections. As a result, non university materials are been recruited while competent and qualified persons are left out. The resultant effects is that these same products are the ones replacing retired academics who see no value in the essence of being part of the academic society. To them the reward for work is money and can compromise academic standards for material rewards and clan or family connections.

The above is a misminor though a very strong factor for academic backwardness in the 21st century. The academic world is suppose to be an independent community devoid of political interference. The simple reason is that research that informs policy decisions should be provided by academics from the universities. Because of poor conditions of service in African Universities, each and every university lecturer is either a member of a political party or one associated with policies of a political party with the hope of being rewarded in terms of political appointment. So the question of research on problems affecting society by academics is a non starter for the Universities in Africa.

Infrastructural development is very important and scientific knowledge that supports such initiatives is a must. Budgetary supports for the development of African Universities is not a priority and as such, basic infrastructures such as laboratories, teaching hospitals, libraries/ internet centers, conference centres , sports complex etc are many a time not available in African Universities. This again suggests that teachings are based on theories alone and students subjected to memory learning. This practice is in sharp contrast with the demands of societies. University graduates that are suppose to provide solutions to societal problems become academic pioneers of problems in society. Ill equipped to address the requirements of job descriptions are left with synthetic solutions in addressing a given task. The multiplier effects is that Africa is always in need of qualify manpower to address the issues of development. High school graduates from the western countries are hired as experts to do the jobs and there is a capital flight, hence depriving African economies of the much needed capital that could have been saved by indigenes and subsequently used for further investments.

Political interference again is another obstacle to increased productivity in African universities.  In some states in Africa, the Presidents are the chancellors of the university and the appointment of the vice chancellors is political. In situations where the President has but very little academic capacity, the university is never a priority to him. He therefore becomes comfortable by appointing an opportunist as Vice Chancellor who can only act by the dictates of the Chancellor. Initiatives that should develop the university are in short supply as the administrative head is only concern about protecting his job. In circumstances where the administrative head has got good plans for the development of the institution, changes in the political system can automatically forestall his ambition. This is so because the new dispensation would require a new appointment and hence end previous plans.

From the above, it is therefore clear that the informalisation of the university systems is responsible for the backwardness of university education in Africa and it is a must that measures are taken at the right time by the right people to correct the present situation.

Turad Senesie

(Human Rights Defender and Political Commentator)