Low access to varsity education worries experts

By Patrick Beja

Scholars have decried low access to university education in sub-Saharan Africa.

They raised concerns some counties rely on others for human resources due to limited education access.

At the same time, the scholars from 22 universities in ten countries meeting under the Association of African Universities urged African governments to raise funding for higher education.

The association’s outgoing Secretary-General and leadership development co-ordinator Goolam Mohamedbhai said there was only six to seven per cent access to university education in the region.

He said lack of funds and human resource due to brain drain continued to affect growth prospects.

"The challenge in public universities is funding. Governments must plan and fund university education as this is the only way to climb the social ladder," he said. He spoke at a Kilifi hotel at the weekend during a workshop hosted by Kenyatta University.

Speaking on behalf of the scholars, Mohamedbhai urged governments to encourage private sector participation in the provision of higher education, but ensure quality.

He said global ranking of universities looked into resource mobilisation and that was the reason most African universities are rated lowly.

Coast Provincial Director of Education Tom Majani said increasing access to higher education has remained a critical challenge in the education sector. Majani said equity, gender, regional balance, ethnic and social disparities should be addressed while expanding higher education.

"Admission policies into State and private colleges and universities should have a criteria to attract more students from disadvantaged regions, gender and poor communities under-represented in strategic and competitive programmes," he said.

Kenyatta University Vice-Chancellor Olive Mugenda said the institution was planning to push for the formation of a national and regional association of universities.