The Burden of Education on Economic Development in Africa: An Assessment

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Periodical article

Title:	The Burden of Education on Economic Development in Africa: An Assessment
Author:	Mugaju, Justus B.
Year:	1991
Periodical:	Transafrican Journal of History (ISSN 0251-0391)
Volume:	20
Pages:	110-124
Language:	English
Notes:	biblio. refs.
Geographic term:	Africa
Subjects:	educational policy educational financing Development and Technology Economics and Trade Education and Oral Traditions education Education and state Educational costs economic development
External link:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/24520305
Abstract:	This paper argues that the educational policies of postcolonial Africa have been misconceived and misguided. The expansion of education has not taken into account the harsh economic realities of Africa. From the outset, postcolonial policymakers acted as if education resources and the capacity to create jobs were infinite. As a result the costs of education have become a heavy burden on economic development, while the pursuit of numbers has not been matched by improvements in the quality of education. One obvious way of reducing the costs of education is to savagely cut down the present burdensome educational expenditures. This can partly be done by shifting the burden to parents and nongovernmental organizations. Furthermore, there is an urgent need to shift the emphasis from the secondary and higher levels of education to the primary sector. Finally, cuts in educational expenditures should be an integral part of comprehensive cuts in total public spending. Bibliogr.