From gutaye@NCAT.EDU
Wed Apr 30 08:21:59 1997
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 1997 08:02:43 -0400
From: Abebe Kebede Bahiru
Subject: The final word/Open College/AVU-Time to hush-up

Subject: The final word/Open College/AVU-Time to hush-up

Since the creation of the Ethiopian Distance Learning Association which is a lead institution for the International Open College of Ethiop ia and the Virtual School of Ethiopian Studies, there have been several mail exchanges in the two e-mail networks. Some of the mail exchanges don't deserve replies. However, there is a serious misunderstanding of the proposals for the open schools

The final word/Open College/AVU-Time to hush-up

This moring I received a handfull of mails from several members most expressing their concern. It is true that there are some who can never learn and one of the is me. Of course my attempt is not to teach those who don't want to learn and those who can not learn. There are several attempts to teach me "by any means neccesary". "inquan zenbobish..". I will never learn that way. I was so tempted to reply to some of the postings, many don't deserve any reply because they are agravating and I don't wish to aggravate the 500 suscribers (to avaoid "ke-telba gar yetegegneh selit...").

In the interest of the majority of subscribers and the interest of the insititutions I am trying to represent and construct, I will refrain from responding to any attacks/persecutions because of my principles. Within the last few days, I have learned a lot about the complicated nature of our situation as Ethiopians. I will continue to advocate distance learning, continue solicit support, continue popularizing the idea as long as I am a member of this network and as long as those who oppose it are tired of it.

There are some attempts to shadow our endeavour as if they are the design of the World Bank. The idea of the Ethiopian Distance Leanring Association and the institutions we have created have nothing to do with the world bank version of the African Virtual University.

However, I assure you that if world bank, educational foundations, the Ethiopian community and similar organizations supoprt these ideas, I will welcome the help pending the approval the board of governors of EDLA.

Also every one must know the following. The concept work for African Virtual University was published 2 or 3 years ago. The idea of open univiersities in Africa existed long before African Virtual University. For example there is the Tanzanian Open Univeristy in operation. There are several major open unioversities in South Africa. It was only a matter of time to come up with our own open schools

The surprise

The first time I knew about the African Virtual University was when a fellow subscriber posted the information on the $1.2M US assistance for the consrution of the school. What you and I did not realize that the idea has been around for the last three years and it is possible that the alleged money is already spent. When this subscriber gave out the information it sounded as if that the Ethiopian Scientific Society (ESS) and by mere coincidence, the International Open College of Ethiopia are the m ain beneficiaries.

African Universities

In front of me I have several publications about African Universities by the World Bank.I have also the hard copy of the concept proposal for the African Virtual Univeristy (AVU) . AVU is targeted to enhance Sub Saharan Universities. This classification may include Ethiopian Univeristies. I have read the proposal over 10 times. The document is a very provocative and deserves academic and political attention.

Let me just read to you part of the introduction to the proposal

  • . On an even more basic level, Africans must have continual access to various forms of knowledge and information in a flexible and timely manner. The onus for producing this talented base of leaders and accessing various forms of knowledge and information falls on the system of higher education in SSA [Sub Saharan Africa]

  • . Unfortunately, tertiary institutions in their present form -- overwhelmed with problems related to governance, access, finance, quality, internal and external efficiency -- do not present a viable solution for meeting this challenge. Enrollment levels are shockingly low. Limited space and declining budgetary levels prevent universities from servicing the growing demand for higher education.

  • As a result, universities in SSA suffer from low numbers trained faculty, virtually non-existent levels of research, poor quality educational materials (e.g., African libraries have suffered immensely as collections have become out of date and laboratory equipment is old, in disrepair and out-of- date), and outmoded programs.

  • Much of the educational methodologies are based on the model of rote memorization and do not encourage critical thinking, problem-solving and creativity; all essential skills for promoting entrepreneurship. These constraints have prevented institutions of higher education from being able to link their graduates with the needs of the country.

  • The distribution of graduates is inconsistent with expected labor markets. African universities have failed to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world as a disproportionate number of students graduate in humanities rather than in the fields of science and engineering.

  • It is highly questionable whether tertiary institutions can afford to continue to develop under this traditional model of higher education, particularly if the countries of SSA wish to expand access to higher education while maintaining quality. The current model of higher education in SSA is at an impasse.

  • The alternative of sending African students abroad for study is also not a realistic option for meeting the needs of SSA. Hence, the basic paradigm under which the system of higher education operates must be changed.

    Interpretation-One

    I can keep on sifiting through the document and find several such assessments and conclusions. Effectively the promoters of the proposal "proved" that the education system in Sub Saharan Africa is Obsolete. They claimed that even solving the budgetary problems of these inistitutions will not allow them to be productive in the Global Economy. They concluded that I quote
    "However, even if the budget allocations for tertiary institutions were to increase, African countries would still be unable to fund the teaching of science and research activities under the current model of university organization. The cost of running a university under this model is simply too high for any one country to support. ".....The preceding analysis [Comparisons were made using IV-league schools in the US] leads indeed to the unambiguous conclusion that the current model of higher education in SSA is at an impasse."
    In simple terms, the schools in Sub Saharan Africa must be reorganzied, downsized and reformulate the educational system by drawing help from an African Virtual University which will probably be based in the US

    In even more simpler terms: the schools are obsolete that their existence as inistitutions is questionable. In even more simpler terms these conclusions would mean firing of more university professors, eliminating grass root insititutions as described in the following paragraph.

    "The mandate given to African universities at the time of independence now requires reassessment as a result of changes in the world, in Africa, and in the universities themselves. "Where once the raison d'etre of universities and colleges was to accumulate, refine and pass on knowledge, as well as culture expressed in words as knowledge, their new tasks is to educate and train people to manage and to gain access to the universal data base of knowledge, whenever and wherever they need to do so" (Hills). In the African setting, this implies a fundamental re-definition of the mission of universities around questions of what students should learn (content) and how it should be delivered. The new technologies provide the opportunity to discuss these questions in ways never before imaginable. They have the potential to impact the educational system on many levels."
    Now what is it going to be ?. Don't you think this is something to think about ? Don't you think this is something we must pay attention to ?

    It is your choice. EDLA will do its best to represent all Educators who are concerned about Educational issues in Ethiopia. We will participate in conferences, develop workshops around the world wherever Ethiopians are.

    This concludes the last word...Participate in the discussion. This is very serious matter. Keep your eye on the ball. We must speak out. We have a country to build

    Negati Bula