Free Education is Free of Knowledge !
Intro
Do we have a clear appreciation and distinction between accesses to education and free education? Is free of fee educated student render their professional skill free of charges? What is free? Is free syndrome or it’s the way out for societal questions? Is the combination of everything free might lead us for a free fall?
Our belief: The slogan should be access to education, rather than free Education. The reasons are clear any nation is built or operates on the basis of well-accepted economic theories. We have been witnessing free fanaticism with out alternative philosophies; such notions have no sound political economy backing unless we create a utopia with heavenly economy. The challenges ahead of African countries are numerous; not unique to South Africa. Building a generation that is determined to change its fate with dedication with merit-based struggle, rather than driven by rhetoric and fallacy economic fantasy. We are hearing that Africa is the richest continent in the world. Africa is the host of all sorts of minerals deposit: petroleum, water and forestry, wild life and so on. Least we have a beautiful continent; nevertheless we are still to see our wealth translated into nation building or experience trickle-down effect. For this to happen we need the know-how, resources and technologies and selfless leadership and a transform political will? Secondly, we have to create a new market space both locally and abroad, a market where we can negotiate a well balance transaction with our partners and stakeholders. However the truth is: Africa is a rich continent but with poor citizens. The total GDP of Africa is only exceeding Republic of France, which shows how behind Africa is. This should rather trigger some sense of responsibility and the urgency to build the continent with diligence, rather than destroy what we have!!
Our Argument: Education is one of a key factor in alleviating poverty and Introducing a path to build prosperous and peaceful society. Education is interconnected with several social, cultural and political development outcomes; among these are health, fertility choices, the education of children, the ability to develop, learn or adapt new technologies to local environment, and build institutions in a sense of nationhood.
Education is a fundamental human right and essential for the exercise of all other human rights. It promotes individual freedom and empowerment and yields important development benefits. Free basic education for all is part of universal declaration of human rights; currently Africa has reached 64% enrolment at primary schools level. Nevertheless during the liberation movement and after independence one of the supreme slogans was free education for all at all level. Then if the slogans were meant to translate as it entirety we could have resolved our problems way back. The realities on the ground are far from our emotions. Africa nearly after six decades of independence still suffering socio economic crisis that are unemployment, hunger, inequality, disease and social injustice. Is one of the causes might be indeed the way we crafted our education system that are not transformative as the result of “free education made us free of knowledge” or our problems cannot be resolved only by human knowledge?
Possibilities: Free and quality education is possible, not necessarily free education result poor standard of education. Our recent experience shows that in most Scandinavian countries implemented free and quality education or symbolic tuition fee at tertiary level. However they invest and provide sufficient resource to deliver quality the result such success is partly they gave priority for research and innovation, focus on local values and practices and over and above the government and the population greatly committed by imposing higher tax the top marginal tax rates are about 60–70 percent in the Scandinavian countries as opposed to only 43 percent in the United States.
Reality: On the contrary in our continent when we introduce free education first we do not have sufficient ways and means to support the required fund for public higher institutions. Second education was not our priority even now it might be one of but not on the top of our agenda. We have underline that education institutions are research centers they demand a lot amount of funding to maintain quality and the governments should support all the way. Otherwise slogan will not provide us free education with quality. To provide free and quality education is three questions we have to answer to respond the whole subject.
1- Someone has to pay for it?
2- How we can maintain the quality?
3- The Education we provide should respond Africa development aspiration!
African Education Institutions and its impacts
Africa is in a crossroad how education can respond societal demand. African Academic institutions growing in numbers with high rate to meet the demand of local population appetite of education. The question may remain for discussions yet, are these education institutions equipped with required standard? Are they producing competent professionals based on local population demand and to accelerate the development agenda of the continent? However the facts are frustrating on the ground, while we educate our young people to be engineers in all corners of Africa why our roads are designed and constructed by Chinese engineers? We might educate our kids to be medical doctors but we have no faith on them when we are sick especially the political elite rushes to London, Paris, Mumbai and Dubai the last ditch in Africa is Cape Town to seek “better” medical treatment. What is having higher education institution in the first place, unless otherwise it changes the reality on the ground and takes us higher and further?
Educational attainment in Africa is low by all standards and lags behind educational attainment from the rest of the world. Educational as any discipline can be measured by its output quantitatively and qualitatively. In this regard we have to impose a question to ourselves that postcolonial Africa produced millions of graduates from our broken education institutions. How many of these graduates contribute for Africa and global good in significant way. In science and technology, literatures, publications, innovation and Entrepreneurship, and most importantly how many laureates and heretics our institutions produced?
First, the region has one of the lowest rates of education attainment, especially in higher education, in comparison with the developing world. Africa is also one of the least developed as defined by several indicators income, human development, health, gender equity, and political stability. The combination of low levels of education and development suggests that the marginal effect of a change in education is likely to be improving. Second, although the region is less developed, it is going through rapid change and it may be interesting to investigate what role education plays in this process. Lastly, African policy makers should pursue a range of policies, including increased investment in quality education, as a means of accelerating development.
Comparison with developed-world universities: quality, quantity and tuition fees.
Africa we have only handful higher education institutions that are ranked and recognized worldwide by academia achievement world rank. Out of top 200 universities in the world none of African university achieved including South Africa. Though among those who have ranked 200-1000 universities only five from South African, four from Egypt and one Ugandan university enjoying the prestige. This reality shows how Africa is far from the reality. Yes we cannot assess and conclude Africa education problem in general and quality setback in particular with this short narration since the communiqué is designed to provoke ideas and concern. Therefore we encourage those who are in the academia to make through research and engagement.
Noticeably missing from the rankings was Nigeria, Africa’s largest economy and the most populous nation, which has around 150 universities. The country’s educational system has suffered decades of decay occasioned by a lack of funding and development. As a result, Nigerians are increasingly paying to have their kids educated in North America, Europe and Australia, spending more than the federal government’s $750 million annual budget for national universities, by some estimates. Ethiopia, the second-most populous African country, which has around 38 universities, contributes another 1.5 million tertiary students. Students from Ethiopia diverge in their opinions, with one describing, "overwhelming" law dropout rates and one of few African countries which implemented wisely cost sharing tertiary education for all.
Correspondingly it is good to look the access to education and availability of higher education, even if the comparison is not apple-to-apple, the contrast is between a country United States of America (USA) with the continent of Africa. USA have more than 5000 accredited universities for 306 million populations, more than half of these Academic institutions are at high standards. Africa with more than 1 billion population we have less than 1000 universities. Out of thousand universities less than 20% ranked who meet adequate academic standard. Therefore anyone can do the mathematics to calculate the deficit in education sector.
Equally important to have glimpse education tuition fees contrast; Africa is consider one of the affordable fee comparing to Asia, Europe, and USA to large extent. Since tuition fee is very subjective matter and difficult to provide comparative analyses however for our assessment and better understanding let us look at postgraduate average payment in these countries. In USA and EU countries for postgraduate study on average a student pay 18,650-26,802 USD, in China postgraduate study cost on average 5,800-7,904 USD, in South Africa postgraduate study cost 1,900-2,800 USD, African countries 500-1600 USD. Apparently the above tuition fee doesn’t include accommodation and subsistence expenses. Therefore by any standard South Africa comparatively that provides quality education difficult to be categories high tuition fee countries.
The missing link and our recommendation
The education system shouldn't be discriminatory in any form for a particular segment of the society or either way. Parents should be out of the equation when we design education policy of tertiary education since we are dealing with eighteen years old or above students. Family wealth shouldn't secure or give access or entitlement for the child outright. However the discretion should be left out for that particular family. Therefore education policy across the board should treat all citizens with equal platform, when we build a just society.
First the government should plan to make available community collages in their own environment as alternative scheme. For those who excel in academic excellence should be given a chance of attending those exalted high learning in scholarship or other sort of mechanism. Secondly South African universities should be open for business to provide education for African nationals and foreign students. That alone can bring a lot of revenue, which can alleviate universities financial burden. Considering the immigration process will be compliant with the initiative.
Community universities
The open-door policy at community colleges gives students who may not qualify for, or fit in at, four-year universities an opportunity to continue their education in a small and diverse learning environment. Community college can be a great way for students who want to earn a degree. Students who want to continue building skills that may not necessarily lead to a degree can develop interests without spending a lot of money at community colleges.Community college is a great place for people to invest in them, through specialized classes and learn skills that can eventually make them income. Investing more value choice on technical education rather than education that deals with social issues only.
Income generation by providing education service wider African
South African universities should plan with the government to be ready for business. Such initiative not limited to economic benefit but also cultural exchange, and most importantly research and development. A key point in having students from different Countries and different backgrounds is more important for the holistic development of modern universities. Moreover international students and their dependents contribute enormously to the national economy and social capital. Moreover if we look at some developed countries how they strategizing to accommodate international student to their benefits we can learn a lot. Also let us look at how the major economies are benefitting out of the higher education facilities. USA, Economy benefit per annum approximately $17.6 billion, China, Economy benefit Per annum approximately $ 13.2 Billion United Kingdom, Economic benefit approximately £5.6 billion. South Africa has the potential and the infrastructure to make higher education as a big industry to use the revenue generated from international students to subsidize the disadvantaged higher education institutions in the Country.
Cost Sharing proposal
Cost sharing in higher education has been defined as “a shift in the burden of higher education costs from being borne exclusively or predominantly by government, or taxpayers, to being shared with parents and students”. A variation on the implementation of tuition fees especially popular in those countries that are ideologically and politically opposed to tuition fees but which nonetheless acknowledge an urgent need for some sort of tuition fee or revenue required, therefore such arrangement with well study program can be implemented to beneficiated the most needy and disadvantage group.
Conclusion
The enlightenment is secured through education and otherwise has no special secret. The problem we are encountering need a systematic approach that is sustainable, comprehensive and inclusive. The solutions we propose not to serve the political interest rather for a nation building in pragmatic way. There is no economy that is designed pro poor or pro rich; such fraud concept will put society in limbo, rather we have to mobilize and empower our people than making them a contributor in the national economy in a clear and decisive way has no option. From pro poor to pro people first is more applicable. More importantly poverty mitigation demand well designed plan of action that is realistic, inclusive and participatory beyond lip service. Building a nation with proper foundation and corner stone will prevent year in, year out crying!!!
This communiqué initiated by Africa Speaks, to contribute our thoughts with regarding the recent and on going #feemustfall protest in South Africa. However since as Pan African thought leaders and change agents we focused on wider educational critics while we focus on the South African realities. Our input is based on Pan African principles; that are part of conscientization programs and promoting realistic understanding about the real situation in Africa. We feel the pain of young people who are demanding fee must fall protest. However we encourage them to be part the solution not part of the problem. That is when African problems for African solutions will get a momentum. As we stated in our earlier communiqué we encourage this generation to erect its own monument by leading as exemplary manner not by destroying historical facts.
“If you plan for a year, plant a seed. If for ten years, plant a tree. If for a hundred years, teach the people. When you sow a seed once, you will reap an single harvest. When you teach the people, you will reap a hundred harvests”.
7th Century BC Chinese philosopher Guan Zhong
Education for Africans, Aluta Continua!!!!
Yours In Pan Africanism
Seife Tadelle Kidane
Africa Speaks