Abstract:
With the massification of higher education, the African higher education system is undergoing a profound structural crisis. The economic situation is not the only cause of the debilitating state of higher education in Africa. The African university is caught up in a dilemma: It seems to be left with little choice but to diversify the sources of its revenue, which means the necessity of introducing cost sharing. With this scheme, students and parents, especially, are expected to bear an important share of the cost of education. This article takes a look at the financial and management reforms adopted in some African countries in a bid to boost access, quality and efficiency. It documents the cost sharing measures introduced alongside its gains, then takes a critical look at the impact that revenue diversification might have on the mission of the university, the quality of learning and the community with the increasing commercial ordering of life. It suggests that African governments and university leaders resolutely look for ways beyond the financial and management policies to bail out their tertiary education systems. Building political consensus and adopting regional and continental strategies will go a long way toward creating sustainable institutions of higher learning.

Full text available as: http://www.codesria.org/IMG/pdf/4-JHEA_Vol_8_1_2010_Herve_Some.pdf

In search of sources other than govermental in the financing of higher education in Sub-Saharan Africa: a word of caution beyond the gains