Kehdinga GF, Towards Enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (2).pdf (213.1 kB)
Towards enhancing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education: a case for higher education in Africa.
journal contribution
posted on 2021-11-29, 17:31 authored by Dr. Kehdinga George FomunyamHigher education is learning that occurs at a university,
college, polytechnic or institute beyond high school level. It is
a phase of learning that is accomplished in colleges,
universities, or academies usually after the completion of
secondary education (igi-global.com, 2020). There are a wide
range of courses grouped under various departments including
social sciences, health sciences and humanities. As of today,
the African Development Bank estimates that there are 14
million students in higher education in Africa, representing
about 6.4% of global tertiary education enrolments but less
than 25% of those students are in STEM fields, with the
majority of students studying social sciences and humanities
(Campos, 2018). Government money is spent on development
and security, not research and innovation. According to the
World Economic Forum, Africa produces only 1.1% of global
scientific knowledge. The continent has just 79 scientists per
million of inhabitants compared to countries like Brazil and
United States where the ratio stands at 656 and 4,500,
respectively. Worst of all, of those scientists and engineers
who are trained in Africa, most work elsewhere due to the
lack of infrastructure and resources (Kariuki, 2015).