Africa’s Storied Colleges, Jammed and Crumbling

Africa’s institutions used to attract the continent’s future engineers and doctors, with many students going on to become leaders of their country. However, since the 1970s, corruption, mismanagement and government policies that favored primary and secondary education over higher education put the universities on a path to decline. African college students contend with crowded dormitories and the need to arrive in class two hours early to get a seat and hear the lecture. With college enrollment on the rise in Africa, fewer graduates land jobs. Politicians dare not tackle reform by raising fees or reducing admission rates, which would risk angering student unions and activists. With so many colleges in a state of disrepair, many of Africa’s brightest travel abroad seeking education – and there is no guarantee that the students will return to contribute to their homelands . –YaleGlobal