Reforms in higher education and the use of information technology : a typology of higher education institution in Africa

Abstract

Though relatively young, Universities in Sub-Saharan post-independent Africa have achieved much. They have grown from just 6 institutions in the '60s to more than 100 in 1993 (See ADEA 1999). The increase in number of institutions of higher learning during the post-independence period have, with some success, dealt with increasing enrolment, largely replaced expatriate with indigenous staff produced skilled human resources required to manage mostly public institutions. The overall model of universities was inherited from the ex-colonial powers, namely to supply the public administration with qualified personnel including supply of teachers. The model itself was elitist in terms of replacing the colonial public officials by local staff as well as a necessary step in post-independent Africa to model their Higher Education Institutions on the ex-colonial powers.