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The Role of the State in Addressing Challenges and Opportunities Posed by the Rapid Growth of Universities in Uganda since 1988

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 May 2014

A. B. K. Kasozi
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Abstract:

This article reviews the challenges and opportunities posed by the rapid growth of private universities in Uganda since 1988 and tries to identify areas of the private university system in which the state can play a positive role. It argues that the state should not leave the operation of the system entirely to market forces but should positively regulate their activities without control. Seven challenges are identified. These include the management challenge, the financing of these institutions, meeting the ever increasing demand for higher education, the devising of relevant curricula, addressing the dearth of qualified academic staff, the formation of a comprehensive national higher education policy, and the maintenance of institutional autonomy tempered by accountability of each of tfiese new university institutions. At the same time, the article identifies a number of opportunities that these institutions could take advantage of. These include the positive economic development the country has been registering for the last decade and half, the resilience of the lower educational system, the social need for higher education, the policy of Universal Primary Education (UPE), the interest of the current government in education development, and the positive international attitude toward Uganda.

Résumé:

Résumé:

Cet article passe en revue les défis et les opportunités nés de la croissance rapide des universités privées en Ouganda depuis 1988, et tente d'identifier les zones de ce système universitaire privé dans lesquelles l'état peut jouer un rôle positif. Nous avançons que l'état ne devrait pas laisser l'administration de ce système se soumettre entièrement aux forces du marché, mais qu'il devrait réguler ses activités de manière positive, sans exercer de contrôle. Nous identifions sept défis à relever. Parmi eux, nous trouvons la gestion et le financement de ces institutions, la demande sans cesse croissante en enseignement supérieur, le besoin de programmes pertinents, le traitement de la pénurie de personnel académique qualifié, la formation d'une politique globale d'enseignement supérieur au niveau national, et la maintenance de l'autonomie institutionnelle, tempérée par la responsabilité de chacune de ces nouvelles universités. En même temps, cet article identifie un certain nombre d'opportunités dont ces institutions pourraient tirer avantage. Ces opportunités comprennent: le développement économique positif que le pays a enregistré au cours des quinze dernières années, la capacité de résistance du système éducatif primaire, le besoin social d'enseignement supérieur, la politique d'éducation primaire universelle ou Universal Primary Education (UPE), l'intérêt du gouvernement actuel pour le développement de l'éducation, et l'attitude internationale positive vis-à-vis de l'Ouganda.

Type
Research Article
Information
African Studies Review , Volume 45 , Issue 2: African Universities in Crisis and the Promotion of a Democratic Culture , September 2002 , pp. 123 - 139
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 2002

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