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From Africa Recovery, Vol.15 #1-2, (June 2001) page 38

Senegal dares to expand its universities

In a departure from previous economic agreements that put a squeeze on higher education in Senegal, the new government of President Abdoulaye Wade is planning a dramatic expansion. Currently, there are some 23,200 students at Senegal's two public universities, in Dakar and Saint-Louis. Government officials have been discussing increasing the total student population at the two universities to around 40,000 within several years, with additional numbers at regional "university centres," such as the existing one in Bambey.

Photo: UN

Such proposals have caused friction with World Bank officials, who had played a central role in influencing the previous government's education policies. In 1996, Senegal signed a six-year higher education project with the World Bank, in which the Bank pledged to cover 86 per cent of the total CFA 14.5 bn ($30.9 mn) cost. Within a framework strongly favouring liberalization and the promotion of private higher education institutions, the project aimed to reduce the number of public university students by limiting intake, raising enrolment fees and other student costs and constraining faculty recruitment. Subsequently, a ten-year education and training programme was negotiated to cover the entire educational sector. Out of a total of CFA 150 bn in financing for its first three years, just 4 per cent was earmarked for the universities.

These policies provoked considerable opposition from students and faculty alike, and university demonstrations and strikes were frequent during the late 1990s. In his campaign for the presidency, Mr. Wade championed many of the economic and social grievances of Senegal's poor, including students and unemployed youths. This contributed to his stunning upset victory in March 2000, and to the solid majority won by his political coalition in the April 2001 legislative election.

Some analysts see the new emphasis on expanding higher education as a concession to a vocal component of the president's political constituency. Indeed, when violent university student protests again erupted in January 2001 -- leading to the death of a protester -- Mr. Wade quickly promised to grant their demand for more scholarships. But greater outlays for student scholarships and faculty recruitment also correspond with Mr. Wade's broader developmental vision, which emphasizes boosting Senegal's management capacity, productivity, and international competitiveness through a rapid upgrading of professional and technical skills.

World Bank officials have expressed serious misgivings about this aspect of the government's plans, however. Following Mr. Wade's accord with the students, Mr. Adrien Wespoor, responsible for the Bank's education programmes in Africa, urged the authorities to adhere to the agreed programme, specifically by reducing spending on scholarships. A couple of weeks earlier, Senegal's then minister of higher education, Mr. Madior Diouf,

had accused World Bank negotiators of "denigrating the interests" of Senegal when he and two other ministers sought to renegotiate the terms of the education agreements signed by the previous government. If the World Bank remained obstinate, Mr. Diouf suggested, Senegal could go elsewhere for financing, specifically citing Saudi Arabia. In fact, after Mr. Wade's later accord with the university students, the president reported that an "Arab friend" actually had pledged most of the additional financing needed for the scholarships.

Related articles:
[ Africa preparing its own recovery plans ]
[ Africa gets a shrinking share of aid ]

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