4 - Regulatory Bodies, Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy in Africa: Issues and Challenges – The Nigerian Example
Corresponding Author(s) : Elijah Adewale Taiwo
Journal of Higher Education in Africa,
Vol. 9 No. 1-2 (2011): Journal of Higher Education in Africa: Special Issue on Academic Freedom in Africa
Abstract
Academic freedom is often described as a four-fold right of a university to determine for itself on academic grounds, who may teach, what may be taught, how it shall be taught, and who may be admitted to study. It also entails the freedom of a university to select its own staff and to determine its own standards, as well as the freedom of both staff and students to free expression in their teaching, studying, publishing and research. Institutional autonomy, on the other hand, is the freedom an educational institution en- joys in managing its internal affairs without undue interference from outside bodies or persons, especially from the government or its agencies. An effec- tive enjoyment of academic freedom, however, requires institutional autonomy. In recent times, Nigerian universities have witnessed many issues challeng- ing their academic freedom and institutional autonomy such as summary dismissal of university teachers for being critical of government educational policies and other related issues. Against this background, this article ar- gues that the establishment of regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Uni- versities Commission, the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board and the like has eroded the previous autonomy and freedom enjoyed by the univer- sities in the four cardinal ways mentioned above. The article advocates a system which adequately guarantees academic freedom. It also commends to Nigeria and other African countries the South African position which guarantees the right to academic freedom and scientific research in its Con- stitution.
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- Ajayi, J.F.A., Goma, L. K. H. & Johnson, G. A., 1996, The African Experience with Higher Education, The Association of African Universities, Ghana.
- Currie, I. & de Waal, J., 2005, The Bill of Rights Handbook, 5th ed., Juta & Co., Lansdowne. Dixon, M. & McCorquodale, R., 2003, Cases and Materials on International Law, New York, Oxford.
- Eso, K., 2008, Thoughts on Human Rights and Education, St Paul’s Publishers, Ibadan. Govindjee, A. & Vrancken, P., eds., 2009, Introduction to Human Rights Law, LexisNexis, Durban/Johannesburg/Cape Town.
- Kaplan, C. & Schrecker, E., eds., 1983, Regulating the Intellectuals: Perspectives on Academic Freedom in the 1980s, Praeger, New York.
- Kertesz, S.D., ed., 1972, The Task of Universities in a Changing World, Notre Dame University Press, Notre Dame.
- Ojo, J. D., 1990, Law and University Administration in Nigeria, Malthouse Press Ltd, Lagos.
- Russell, C., 1993, Academic Freedom, London & New York, Routledge.
- Teferra, D. & Altbach, P. G., eds., 2003, African Higher Education, Indiana University Press, Bloomington & Indianapolis.
- The Open Universities in South Africa and Academic Freedom 1957-1974, A Review by the Academic Freedom Committees of the University of Cape Town and the University of the Witwatersrand, Juta & Co, 1974.
- Tight, M., ed., 1988, Academic Freedom and Responsibility, Society for Research into Higher Education & Open University Press, Milton Keynes.
- Ya’u, Y.Z., 2004, ‘Academic Staff Union of Universities under Attairu Jega: A Leadership Profile’, Centre for Social Science Research & Development, Lagos.
References
Ajayi, J.F.A., Goma, L. K. H. & Johnson, G. A., 1996, The African Experience with Higher Education, The Association of African Universities, Ghana.
Currie, I. & de Waal, J., 2005, The Bill of Rights Handbook, 5th ed., Juta & Co., Lansdowne. Dixon, M. & McCorquodale, R., 2003, Cases and Materials on International Law, New York, Oxford.
Eso, K., 2008, Thoughts on Human Rights and Education, St Paul’s Publishers, Ibadan. Govindjee, A. & Vrancken, P., eds., 2009, Introduction to Human Rights Law, LexisNexis, Durban/Johannesburg/Cape Town.
Kaplan, C. & Schrecker, E., eds., 1983, Regulating the Intellectuals: Perspectives on Academic Freedom in the 1980s, Praeger, New York.
Kertesz, S.D., ed., 1972, The Task of Universities in a Changing World, Notre Dame University Press, Notre Dame.
Ojo, J. D., 1990, Law and University Administration in Nigeria, Malthouse Press Ltd, Lagos.
Russell, C., 1993, Academic Freedom, London & New York, Routledge.
Teferra, D. & Altbach, P. G., eds., 2003, African Higher Education, Indiana University Press, Bloomington & Indianapolis.
The Open Universities in South Africa and Academic Freedom 1957-1974, A Review by the Academic Freedom Committees of the University of Cape Town and the University of the Witwatersrand, Juta & Co, 1974.
Tight, M., ed., 1988, Academic Freedom and Responsibility, Society for Research into Higher Education & Open University Press, Milton Keynes.
Ya’u, Y.Z., 2004, ‘Academic Staff Union of Universities under Attairu Jega: A Leadership Profile’, Centre for Social Science Research & Development, Lagos.