1 - Towards Academic Freedom for Africa in the 21st Century*
Journal of Higher Education in Africa,
Vol. 4 No. 3 (2006): Journal of Higher Education in Africa
Abstract
This paper begins by reviewing the ways in which the higher education landscape in Africa has changed significantly during the last decade as a result of the ongoing regional crisis and the changing perspectives on African higher education articu- lated within the international development arena and argues that, if the higher edu- cation crisis of the 1980s and 1990s was the result of financial conditionalities imposed through structural adjustment, then the ensuing decade has seen a global policy shift that has profoundly changed the conditions under which academic work is carried out. Particular attention is paid to the manner in which the changing, economically-driven constraints on academic freedom, institutional autonomy and conditions of service in higher educational institutions are mediated by other social conditions such as gender inequalities, the HIV/AIDS crisis, the effects of long- term brain drain and the manner in which local capacity is diverted into survivalism. I argue that higher education reforms threaten to undermine the material base for academic life by emphasising privatisation and cost recovery in contexts where poverty is a major feature of life. Exaggerated concerns with “efficiency” and “ex- cellence” lead to increased regulation and surveillance of scholarly output, render- ing academic freedom vulnerable to formulaic measures of performance that may be insensitive to the work of African academics. The paper concludes by recom- mending a programme of activities designed to re-affirm the public stake in higher education, strengthen and diversify independent scholarly work and encourage Af- rican governments to adopt policies that will strengthen the tertiary sector and en- sure an enabling environment for intellectual development and freedom.
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- AAU, 2001, ‘Declaration on the African University in the Third Millennium’. (www.aau.org/releases/declaration.htm). 18 August 2006.
- Ajayi, J., Goma L., and Ampah J. G., eds., 1996, The African Experience with Higher Education, Oxford: James Currey.
- Ake, C., 1994, Democratization and Disempowerment in Africa, Lagos: Malthouse Press.
- Altbach, P. G., 2003, ‘The United States and the International Education Trade’, in International Higher Education, No 31, Boston: The Boston College Center for International Higher Education.
- Bennett J., 2002, ‘Exploration of a “Gap”: Strategising Gender Equity in African Universities’, Feminist Africa, Vol. 1, No. 2.
- Diouf, M. and Mamdani, M., eds., 1994, Academic Freedom in Africa. Dakar: CODESRIA.
- Hountondji P., 2002, The Struggle for Meaning: Reflection on Philosophy, Culture and Democracy in Africa, Columbus OH: Ohio State University Press.
- ILO/UNESCO, 2000, Joint ILO/UNESCO Committee of Experts on the Applica- tion of the Recommendations concerning the Status of Teaching Personnel, Seventh Session Geneva. (www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/sector/techmeet/ ceatr.htm). 18 August 2006.
- Mama, A., 2003, ‘Restore, Reform but do not Transform: The Gender Politics of Higher Education in Africa’, Journal of Higher Education in Africa, Vol. 1, No.1.
- Manuh, T. et al., 2003, Change and Transformation in Ghana’s Publicly Funded Universities: A Study of Experiences, Lessons and Opportunities.
- Mkandawire, T., and Soludo, C., 1999, Our Continent, Our Future: African Per- spectives on Structural Adjustment, Dakar: IDRC/CODESRIA.
- Murunga G., 2001, ‘Private Universities in the Kenyan Higher Education Experi- ence’, CODESRIA Bulletin Nos 1 & 2.
- Musisi, N. et al., 2001, Makerere University in Transition 1993–2000: Opportuni- ties and Challenges.
- Oloka-Onyango, J., and Tamale S., 2000, ‘“Bitches” at the Academy: Gender and Academic Freedom in Africa’ in E. Sall, ed., 2000, Women in Academia: Gen- der and Academic Freedom in Africa.
- CODESRIA State of Academic Freedom Series, Dakar: CODESRIA.
- Pereira C., 2002, A Gender Analysis of the Nigerian University System (forthcom- ing).
- Ramphele, M., 2002, Steering by the Stars: Being Young in South Africa, Cape Town: Tafelberg.
- Sall, E., ed., 2000, Women in Academia: Gender and Academic Freedom in Africa, CODESRIA State of Academic Freedom Series, Dakar: CODESRIA.
- Samoff, J., and Caroll, B., 2002, ‘The Promise of Partnership and Continuities of Dependence: External Support to Higher education in Africa’, paper presented at the 45th Annual Meeting of the African Studies Association, Washington, DC, 5–8 December.
- Sawyerr, A., 2002, ‘Challenges facing African Universities: Selected Issues’, paper presented at the 45th Annual Meeting of the African Studies Association, Wash- ington DC, 5–8 December.
- Singh, M., 2001, ‘Re-Inserting the ‘Public Good’ into Higher Education Transfor- mation’, Kagisano Council on Higher Education (CHE) Discussion Series, No. 1.
- UNESCO, 1997, Recommendations Concerning the Status of Higher Education Teaching Personnel, Paris: UNESCO.
- World Bank, 2002, Constructing Knowledge Societies: New Challenges for Tertiary Education, Washington DC: World Bank.
References
AAU, 2001, ‘Declaration on the African University in the Third Millennium’. (www.aau.org/releases/declaration.htm). 18 August 2006.
Ajayi, J., Goma L., and Ampah J. G., eds., 1996, The African Experience with Higher Education, Oxford: James Currey.
Ake, C., 1994, Democratization and Disempowerment in Africa, Lagos: Malthouse Press.
Altbach, P. G., 2003, ‘The United States and the International Education Trade’, in International Higher Education, No 31, Boston: The Boston College Center for International Higher Education.
Bennett J., 2002, ‘Exploration of a “Gap”: Strategising Gender Equity in African Universities’, Feminist Africa, Vol. 1, No. 2.
Diouf, M. and Mamdani, M., eds., 1994, Academic Freedom in Africa. Dakar: CODESRIA.
Hountondji P., 2002, The Struggle for Meaning: Reflection on Philosophy, Culture and Democracy in Africa, Columbus OH: Ohio State University Press.
ILO/UNESCO, 2000, Joint ILO/UNESCO Committee of Experts on the Applica- tion of the Recommendations concerning the Status of Teaching Personnel, Seventh Session Geneva. (www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/sector/techmeet/ ceatr.htm). 18 August 2006.
Mama, A., 2003, ‘Restore, Reform but do not Transform: The Gender Politics of Higher Education in Africa’, Journal of Higher Education in Africa, Vol. 1, No.1.
Manuh, T. et al., 2003, Change and Transformation in Ghana’s Publicly Funded Universities: A Study of Experiences, Lessons and Opportunities.
Mkandawire, T., and Soludo, C., 1999, Our Continent, Our Future: African Per- spectives on Structural Adjustment, Dakar: IDRC/CODESRIA.
Murunga G., 2001, ‘Private Universities in the Kenyan Higher Education Experi- ence’, CODESRIA Bulletin Nos 1 & 2.
Musisi, N. et al., 2001, Makerere University in Transition 1993–2000: Opportuni- ties and Challenges.
Oloka-Onyango, J., and Tamale S., 2000, ‘“Bitches” at the Academy: Gender and Academic Freedom in Africa’ in E. Sall, ed., 2000, Women in Academia: Gen- der and Academic Freedom in Africa.
CODESRIA State of Academic Freedom Series, Dakar: CODESRIA.
Pereira C., 2002, A Gender Analysis of the Nigerian University System (forthcom- ing).
Ramphele, M., 2002, Steering by the Stars: Being Young in South Africa, Cape Town: Tafelberg.
Sall, E., ed., 2000, Women in Academia: Gender and Academic Freedom in Africa, CODESRIA State of Academic Freedom Series, Dakar: CODESRIA.
Samoff, J., and Caroll, B., 2002, ‘The Promise of Partnership and Continuities of Dependence: External Support to Higher education in Africa’, paper presented at the 45th Annual Meeting of the African Studies Association, Washington, DC, 5–8 December.
Sawyerr, A., 2002, ‘Challenges facing African Universities: Selected Issues’, paper presented at the 45th Annual Meeting of the African Studies Association, Wash- ington DC, 5–8 December.
Singh, M., 2001, ‘Re-Inserting the ‘Public Good’ into Higher Education Transfor- mation’, Kagisano Council on Higher Education (CHE) Discussion Series, No. 1.
UNESCO, 1997, Recommendations Concerning the Status of Higher Education Teaching Personnel, Paris: UNESCO.
World Bank, 2002, Constructing Knowledge Societies: New Challenges for Tertiary Education, Washington DC: World Bank.