Higher education and the future of Africa in the 21st Century : the role of the institutions of higher learning in responding to Africa's development needs and priorities

Abstract

As of now the African economies with few, if any, exceptions have not changed much since the late 1950s. They are still tied to the markets of the developed domestic market economy countries and tied through exports of a few dominant primary commodities. They still depend on the same sources for the bulk of their imports of capital and consumer goods and services. The terms of trade are still determined by declining prices for export products and increasing prices for imports and their balance of payments are still markedly intensified by 'extreme negative balances in the services account. When there has been a change in the dominant export commodity this has beer, due, in most cases, to initiatives taken by foreign firms. Food imports continue to grow. Enclaves, semi-enclaves and dysfunctional relations spread instead of disappearing.