It could be said that the current state of the African scientific sector is representative of the continent’s struggle for meaningful and far-reaching independence. According to figures released by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics in 2011, sub-Saharan Africa has the world’s lowest tertiary education enrolment rate, as only 6 per cent of the total African population registers for further education courses. This figure stands in stark contrast with the rates for Europe and Central Asia (55 per cent), Latin America and the Caribbean (38 per cent), and the Middle East and North Africa (27 per cent).
Of course, these figures cannot be understood in isolation. Low tertiary enrolment rates are closely linked to Africa’s history of scientific dependence, and in turn, the continent’s struggle to achieve scientific independence is a result of the low budget allocated to scientific development. In fact, the total research and development budget in Africa barely reaches 1 per cent of the continent’s total gross domestic product.
This has nefarious consequences in terms of Africa’s human capital too, as it is estimated that more than 70,000 students and 20,000 professionals leave the continent every year, causing a brain drain that costs African countries more than $4 billion. Paradoxically, the knowledge gap left behind by those who leave is filled by bringing in foreign specialist consultants, a manoeuvre that deepens Africa’s scientific dependence on foreign human and financial capital.
Although the situation looks decidedly grim, it is reasonable to expect that things will soon begin to change. The topic of scientific independence has recently been brought up by leading African thinkers and scientists. For example, the Planet Earth Institute was founded in 2009 with the objective of working towards the establishment of Africa’s scientific independence. Dr Alvaro Sobrinho, an Angolan scientist whose ambitious vision for Africa includes changing the current perceptions of science among both individuals and organisations, leads this non-governmental organisation. There’s a brief introduction to his work here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUxwz3yGkbA
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The Planet Earth Institute hopes to achieve its goals through the implementation of a multi-faceted approach that focusses on advocacy and policy making, the creation of state-of-the-art research and educational centres, and the promotion of new technologies that can be used for scientific purposes in the continent. Here is there presentation to the United Nations General Assembly: http://www.slideshare.net/JamesKnight4/alvaro-sobrinho-african-union-presentation
In the larger scheme of things, Africa’s scientific independence can drive the continent’s human and economic development with African-led initiatives that can be crucial in creating a sustainable path towards sustainability and prosperity.
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