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04/18/23
Population Growth and Young Peoples’ Needs
By
Ogunyinka, Emmanuel Kayode
PhD scholar, Graduate School, College of Education, Central China Normal University
Teacher-in-Charge: Dr (Ms.) Xiong, Chun
Content in FocusPreamble
Introduction
Figure 1
Table 1
Figure 2
Historical Perspectives
Table 2
The Expected
Filling the Gap04/18/23 2
Figure 3
Table 3
Figure 4
Need for Skilled Man Power
Engaging with Development Challenges
What should HEIs Provide?
Higher Education and Business/Industry
The Role of the Private Sector
Funding Provisions
Conclusion04/18/23 3
Preamble
This paper focuses on re-thinking African education system
through annexation of technical and vocational education
training (TVET) and higher education institutions (HEIs):
Human Capital Development Perspective. According to Thin,
Neil (2006:1) argues that in some cases the prioritization of
primary education has meant “shifting both donor and
government funds away from other levels of education’ and that
this has led to a failure to invest in the expansion of secondary
education in particular”. Let alone TVET & higher education,
according to our premonition about the UPE.04/18/23 4
IntroductionThe challenges facing many African nations today are slow
economic development, prevalence of poverty, diseases and
ignorance. The continent is also searching for how best to
engage the teeming population of youth in technical and
vocational skills, an effort which many scholars (Gazi, 2008;
Omoifo, 2000; Psacharopolous, 1985; Yamada, 2001) agree is
a panacea for many of the ills plaguing the region.
04/18/23 5
It has been stated by many (Ogbu, 2004; Oloruntegbe, 2009) that natural
resources is no longer a source of wealth but science and technology. There is
abundant evidence that the material well being of the world in the last 20 years
was driven by science and technology.
A number of countries like Japan, Korea, China, Singapore and Thailand have
significantly progressed recently through the use of their skilled human
resources.
Like these countries, if the resource endowment in Africa can be properly utilized
and channeled, it can create a means of achieving strong science and
technological base with a resultant sound economic development in the long run.
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7
Figure 1. Enrolment into higher including vocational and technological education in some parts of the world. Source: Adapted from Bloom et al. (2006) Higher Education in Africa and Oloruntegbe et al. (2010) rethinking development and sustainability of African economy. Tertiary Gross Enrolment Ratio, Sub-Saharan Africa falls behind. SSA= Sub –Saharan Africa; E Asia & Pac= East. Asia and Pacific; S Asia= South Asia; Euro & C Asia=Europe and central Asia; L Am & Car=Latin America and Caribbean; M East & N Af=Middle East and North Africa.
SSA E Asia S Asia Eur & L Am & M East High & Pac C Asia Car & N Af Inc
1998/99
2003/04
2007/08
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Historical PerspectivesMost African nations got independence from their colonial
masters at different times but at about the middle of last century,
Ghana in 1957, Nigeria 1960, Cote d Voire 1960, Zimbabwe 1980.
In mid-2008, the population of the continent was estimated at
967 million, with about 400 million (42 percent) below age 15.
This youthful population age structure provides momentum for
continued growth. On the other hand, 39% were found to fall in
the age-group of 15 - 39 years and, therefore, constituting the
immediate clientele for the TVE system.
With an annual growth rate of about 2.4 percent
(high of 2.8 in Middle Africa and low of 0.8 in
Southern Africa), the continent is projected to
reach 1.9 billion by 2050.
Africa is projected to account for 21 percent of
world population by 2050, up from just 9 percent
in 1950 (UN Population Division, World
Population Prospects and the 2006 Version).04/18/23 11
The ExpectedOne does not have to be a rocket scientist to
understand that a great economy and a great
educational system go hand in hand (Arora, 2000).
With globalization lurking around in every sphere of
human endeavor, we are expected to meet the
international standard of living and doing things.
To get it done, urgent attention must be paid to
the followings: focusing on career-based
vocational and technical education, responding
to dynamic changes and challenges impacting
on information and communication technology
and creating opportunities for school leavers
and adult learners to acquire skills, knowledge
and values for lifelong learning in a global
economy. 04/18/23 13
Filling the GapThe level of unemployment worldwide calls for concern. Many
are of the opinion that the jobs are not there. In reality there are
jobs but only that majority of the applicants are unemployable.
The situation in UK
Of late Sergeant (2010) sounded an alarm that eight millions
adult in United Kingdom alone are “economically inactive” and
that the schools are churning out unemployable graduates.
Different models and programs could be fashioned out
depending on the economic needs and job requirements.
One of such models (Figure 3.) considers a provision for a
short term and as well as a long term vocational and
technological training programs anchored on varying degrees
of theoretical and practical academic contents.
The proposal on Table 2 shows varied academic contents of
different academic programs.
04/18/23
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Table2. Proposed varied academic contents of different vocational and technological programs.
The model on Figure 4 spells out the type of learning
environment appropriate for achieving global market economy.
Typified in the model are ‘Hands-on’, ‘Minds-on’ and ‘Hearts-
on’ paradigms representing respectively a system of practice-
oriented curriculum, process-oriented curriculum and holistic
student development.
04/18/23 18
Need for Skilled ManpowerAll the indicators show that there is an acute shortage of appropriately trained
manpower in Africa and this could hamper its economic and social development
at this crucial stage when the continent has emerged from a long period of
turmoil and economic stagnation.
The current tertiary enrolment in Africa (around 7%) is by far the lowest in any
other world region.
Africa has the world’s youngest population, which is expected to increase, and
nearly 60% of its unemployed are aged between 15 and 24, a significant number
of whom are graduates.
04/18/23 19
Engaging with Development Challenges
HEIs in Africa have a responsibility to ensure that students are
sensitized to the continent’s myriad development challenges,
and that graduates not only find meaningful employment
according to their skills, but are also equipped to create an
informed and engaged citizenry, one that promotes sustainable
development, multicultural understanding, tolerance and peace.
04/18/23 20
What should HEIs Provide?
Institutions must be responsive to labour
market demands and provide the
necessary competencies and skills to their
students.
04/18/23 21
Higher Education and Business/IndustryLinks between universities and business/industry can be enormously helpful in facilitating graduate employability, although the industrial sector in most African countries is not fully developed.
There is an urgent need in Africa to ensure more value-added to the resources and also to develop the manufacturing sector which will create employment.
First, advice on the curricula from representatives of business and industry can help make educational programs more relevant to the needs of the sector.
Second, businesses and industry can provide work experience opportunities to students.
04/18/23 22
04/18/23 23
The Role of the Private SectorWith public HEIs unable to cope with the huge demand for
higher education in Africa, private HEIs have an important role
to play.
Currently, the number of private HEIs already exceeds the
number of public ones in Africa, although their student
enrolment is lower.
Private institutions tend to run programs that are relevant to
labour market needs, but the quality of their programs often
leaves much to be desired and their graduates often experience
difficulty in finding employment.
If private HEIs are to play a role in complementing and
supplementing public higher education, it must be ensured
that their educational provision is of quality.
The private sector can also contribute by providing
company-based training to new graduates to enhance
their business skills and provide them with valuable work
experience
04/18/23 24
Funding ProvisionsPutting in place quality assurance systems requires funding
and this is clearly the responsibility of governments.
Many African countries have successfully introduced cost-
sharing measures by charging student tuition fees, but this
remains a contentious issue in many other countries.
One positive aspect of cost-sharing is that students
insist on getting ‘value for money’ from their education.
This will drive public HEIs to ensure the quality and
relevance of their educational provision. 04/18/23 25
ConclusionIn the post-2015 development agenda for Africa,
there needs to be a balance between concern for
sustainable development and compulsion for
growth. Sustained growth in Africa can only take
place through an increase in the provision of
skilled manpower, but it must be ensured that this
manpower is productively employed.
04/18/23 26
Selected ReferencesDeborah Johnson (2010). Shooting for the wrong target? A Reassessment of the
International Education Goals for Sub-Sahara Africa. School of Oriental and African Studies, London School of Economics, pg. 95-116.
Goolam Mohamedbhai (2013). Transforming African Higher Education for Graduate Employability. Association of African Universities.
Oloruntegbe K.O, Akinsete A.M, Ayeni E.O, Odutuyi M.O, (2010). Rethinking Developmeent and Sustainability of African Economy: The Roles of Science Education. African J. of Business Management, 4(6): 1202-1214.
Sergeant H (2010). Schools are Churning out the Unemployable. The Sunday Times.
Thin, Neil (2006): “Beyond Basic Education: How Post-basic Learning can Make Education Sustainable and Valuable. Lessons from Sub-Saharan Africa and India”, PBET Policy Brief No.1, Center of African Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, February.
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Thank you for your kind attention!
Questions & suggestions04/18/23 28
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