6 - The Private Higher Education Sector in Africa: Current Trends and Themes in Six Country Studies
Journal of Higher Education in Africa,
Vol. 6 No. 1 (2008): Journal of Higher Education in Africa
Abstract
In Africa, the phenomenon of access to public higher education is under much pres- sure, and is harnessed by (among others) two privatization forces. These refer to the retreat of the state in terms of the provisioning of public higher education and the global economic rush which have culminated in both an increase in the number and to some extent the range of private higher education institutional types offering diverse course offerings. Although still small in scale and not representing a domi- nant share of higher education enrolment, their existence signals that they are meet- ing a social function of access in Africa, albeit limited. In light of this, there are traces of course offerings that suggest a small alignment with the economic and social needs of a modern society. Caught between the interstices of global eco- nomic capital and national societal functions, these institutions’ mandates and iden- tities are beginning to be stretched to meet modern imperatives. But, in this vortex, they are simultaneously hamstrung by certain sustainable systemic elements that go against the grain of the requirements for traditional higher education. Following this line of argument, the article begins with an overview of six country studies in Africa, including an outline of some of the discursive trends. It concludes by pro- viding a snapshot glimpse into the private higher education sector in South Africa.
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- Abagi, O., 2006, ‘Private Higher Education in Kenya’, in N. V. Varghese, ed., Growth and Expansion of Private Higher Education in Africa, Paris: International In- stitute for Educational Planning (IIEP).
- Abagi, O., Nzomo, J. & Otieno, W., 2005, ‘Private Higher Education in Kenya’, Paris: International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP).
- Ajayi, T., 2006, ‘Private Higher Education in Nigeria’, in N. V. Varghese, ed., Growth and Expansion of Private Higher Education in Africa, Paris: International In- stitute for Educational Planning (IIEP).
- Alani, R., 2004, ‘Redressing the Problem of Access: The Relevance of Private Universities in Nigeria’, Makerere Journal of Higher Education, 1: 37-51.
- Altbach, P., 1987, Higher Education in the Third World, New York: Advent Books.
- Altbach, P., 2005, ‘Private Higher Education: Themes and Variations in Compara- tive Perspective’, in P. Altbach and C. Levy, eds., Private Higher Education: A Global Revolution, Netherlands: Sense Publishers.
- Chivore, B.R.S., 2006, ‘Private Higher Education in Zimbabwe’, in N. V. Varghese, ed.,Growth and Expansion of Private Higher Education in Africa, Paris: Inter- national Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP).
- Effah, P, 2006, ‘Private Higher Education in Ghana’, in N. V. Varghese, ed., Growth and Expansion of Private Higher Education in Africa, Paris: International In- stitute for Educational Planning (IIEP).
- Kiamba, C., 2004, ‘Privately Sponsored Students and Other Income Generating Activities at the University of Nairobi’, Journal of Higher Education in Africa, Vol. 2(2): 53–74.
- Kuhanga, N.A., 2006, ‘Private Higher Education in Tanzania’, in N. V. Varghese, ed., Growth and Expansion of Private Higher Education in Africa, Paris: Inter- national Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP).
- Levy, C., 2005, ‘Private Higher Education’s Surprise Roles’ in P. Altbach and C. Levy, eds., Private Higher Education: A Global Revolution, Netherlands: Sense Publishers.
- Levy, C., 1986, Higher Education and the State in Latin America: Private Chal- lenges in Public Dominance, Chicago: University of Chicago Press..
- Munene, I.I. & Otieno, W., 2007, ‘Changing the Course: Equity effects and institu- tional risk amid policy shift in higher education financing in Kenya’, Higher Education (online first). Available: http://www.springerlink.com/content/y27784163v211458/fulltext.pdf
- Oanda, I.O., 2005, ‘New Frontiers of Exclusion: Private higher education and wom- en’s opportunities in Kenya’, Journal of Higher Education in Africa, 3(3): 87- 105.
- Tumwesigye, G., 2006, ‘Private Higher Education in Uganda’, in N. V. Varghese, ed., Growth and Expansion of Private Higher Education in Africa, Paris: Inter- national Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP).
- Thaver, B., 2001, The local conditions that have given rise to private higher edu- cation in South Africa: 1990–2000, in Papers in Education, UWC.
- Thaver, B., 2003, ‘Private Higher Education in Africa: Six Country Studies’, in D. Teferra and P.
- Altbach, eds., ‘African Higher Education: An International Ref- erence Handbook’, Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
- Varghese, N. V., ed., 2006, Growth and Expansion of Private Higher Education in Africa, Paris: International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP).
- Wangenge-Ouma, G., 2007, ‘Reducing resource dependence on government fund- ing: The case of public universities in Kenya and South Africa’, unpublished PhD dissertation, University of Cape Town.
- Wesonga, D., Ngome, C., Ouma-Odero, D., & Wawire, V., 2007, ‘Private Provision of Higher Education in Kenya: Trends and Issues in Four Universities’, in K.Mwiria, N. Ng’ethe, C. Ngome, D. Ouma-Odero, V. Wawire, & D. Wesonga, Public and Private Universities in Kenya, Nairobi: EAEP.6.
References
Abagi, O., 2006, ‘Private Higher Education in Kenya’, in N. V. Varghese, ed., Growth and Expansion of Private Higher Education in Africa, Paris: International In- stitute for Educational Planning (IIEP).
Abagi, O., Nzomo, J. & Otieno, W., 2005, ‘Private Higher Education in Kenya’, Paris: International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP).
Ajayi, T., 2006, ‘Private Higher Education in Nigeria’, in N. V. Varghese, ed., Growth and Expansion of Private Higher Education in Africa, Paris: International In- stitute for Educational Planning (IIEP).
Alani, R., 2004, ‘Redressing the Problem of Access: The Relevance of Private Universities in Nigeria’, Makerere Journal of Higher Education, 1: 37-51.
Altbach, P., 1987, Higher Education in the Third World, New York: Advent Books.
Altbach, P., 2005, ‘Private Higher Education: Themes and Variations in Compara- tive Perspective’, in P. Altbach and C. Levy, eds., Private Higher Education: A Global Revolution, Netherlands: Sense Publishers.
Chivore, B.R.S., 2006, ‘Private Higher Education in Zimbabwe’, in N. V. Varghese, ed.,Growth and Expansion of Private Higher Education in Africa, Paris: Inter- national Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP).
Effah, P, 2006, ‘Private Higher Education in Ghana’, in N. V. Varghese, ed., Growth and Expansion of Private Higher Education in Africa, Paris: International In- stitute for Educational Planning (IIEP).
Kiamba, C., 2004, ‘Privately Sponsored Students and Other Income Generating Activities at the University of Nairobi’, Journal of Higher Education in Africa, Vol. 2(2): 53–74.
Kuhanga, N.A., 2006, ‘Private Higher Education in Tanzania’, in N. V. Varghese, ed., Growth and Expansion of Private Higher Education in Africa, Paris: Inter- national Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP).
Levy, C., 2005, ‘Private Higher Education’s Surprise Roles’ in P. Altbach and C. Levy, eds., Private Higher Education: A Global Revolution, Netherlands: Sense Publishers.
Levy, C., 1986, Higher Education and the State in Latin America: Private Chal- lenges in Public Dominance, Chicago: University of Chicago Press..
Munene, I.I. & Otieno, W., 2007, ‘Changing the Course: Equity effects and institu- tional risk amid policy shift in higher education financing in Kenya’, Higher Education (online first). Available: http://www.springerlink.com/content/y27784163v211458/fulltext.pdf
Oanda, I.O., 2005, ‘New Frontiers of Exclusion: Private higher education and wom- en’s opportunities in Kenya’, Journal of Higher Education in Africa, 3(3): 87- 105.
Tumwesigye, G., 2006, ‘Private Higher Education in Uganda’, in N. V. Varghese, ed., Growth and Expansion of Private Higher Education in Africa, Paris: Inter- national Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP).
Thaver, B., 2001, The local conditions that have given rise to private higher edu- cation in South Africa: 1990–2000, in Papers in Education, UWC.
Thaver, B., 2003, ‘Private Higher Education in Africa: Six Country Studies’, in D. Teferra and P.
Altbach, eds., ‘African Higher Education: An International Ref- erence Handbook’, Bloomington: Indiana University Press.
Varghese, N. V., ed., 2006, Growth and Expansion of Private Higher Education in Africa, Paris: International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP).
Wangenge-Ouma, G., 2007, ‘Reducing resource dependence on government fund- ing: The case of public universities in Kenya and South Africa’, unpublished PhD dissertation, University of Cape Town.
Wesonga, D., Ngome, C., Ouma-Odero, D., & Wawire, V., 2007, ‘Private Provision of Higher Education in Kenya: Trends and Issues in Four Universities’, in K.Mwiria, N. Ng’ethe, C. Ngome, D. Ouma-Odero, V. Wawire, & D. Wesonga, Public and Private Universities in Kenya, Nairobi: EAEP.6.