The Challenges of Tertiary Education and Economic Development of African States

The paper examines the various challenges that confront tertiary education institutions and economic development in Africa. It discusses the link between human capital development and tertiary education institutions and its impact on economic development in Africa. The paper argues that human capital development through tertiary education institutions is indispensable among African states for accelerated development in terms of poverty reduction, high productivity, life expectancy and increased literacy rate among others. The paper notes that the development of tertiary education institutions in Africa has been neglected by African states because of its capital intensiveness. The World Bank and other International Organizations that assist Africa in the development of education encouraged this neglect by laying emphasis on the development of primary and secondary education. The paper argues that the challenges of tertiary education institutions vis-à-vis economic development in African include the dependency type of relationship between African states and their former colonial masters and/or industrial countries, inadequate financing, lack of university autonomy, poor management of resources resulting from weak leadership, faculty shortage, among others. Finally, the paper recommends, among others that adequate funding of tertiary education institutions in Africa is sine qua non if African states have to pull itself out from under development.