Promoting Meaningful Transformations in African Higher Education in Times of Global Disruptions

Abstract

Reforms in African higher education have been a multi-faceted challenge encompassing their missed links, among others, with historical, geo-political, and socio-economic hurdles. Despite the observed quality improvement over the last two decades, its full participation in economic development has been a dream yet to be achieved. The outbreak of coronavirus has come to add more strain on this fragile system. This chapter reflects on transformations taking place as palliative or “cosmetic” measures adopted to alleviate, mitigate, and avert the escalation of the crisis in African higher education. It uses the study of literature and sources of authority to tap arguments. Analyses established that measures taken leave out rural and poverty-stricken higher education institutions. These cannot access infrastructure, technologies, and qualified staffing to accommodate abrupt changes from face to face to online delivery mode. The chapter recommends extensive resources mobilization coupled with systematic and punctual quality verifications in African higher education.