The development of higher education in Africa
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In recognition of the challenges - and the success stories - in the provision of educational opportunity on the African continent, the overall theme for the meeting was ‘Bridging the Development Gap’. Professor N. Barney Pityana, Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of South Africa noted that with only five years until the goals of UNESCO's Education for All initiative should be realized, access to higher education in sub-Saharan Africa is at 5%, and that while South Africa is the leader, access there is still under 20%.
The invited keynote speaker, Dr. Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, Chief Executive Officer of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Planning and Coordinating Agency noted that less than 3% of worldwide internet subscriptions are in Africa, compared for example with 43% in Asia. Dr. Mayaki argued that internet access is a pre-requisite for development and that increased exchange of knowledge would allow the African continent to drive development through the pooling of internal resources, rather than through dependence on aid.
Policy challenges to open and distance education
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The Standing Conference of Presidents was preceded by a Policy Forum which looked at governmental policy towards open and distance education around the world.
This Policy Forum was the first step in an ICDE initiative to highlight the increasing number of government actions which could restrict the success and impact of distance education as an instrument for lifelong learning, and restrict progress towards the UNESCO Education for All goals.
A formal report from the Policy Forum is currently being drafted for circulation.
Policy Forum presentation slides: