While the number of African students seeking higher learning is soaring, the quality of education remains a challenge. As a result, the brightest minds seek opportunities abroad. But what if Africa invested in its educational infrastructure? Would they stay?
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00:00Africa is teeming with vibrant youth, and the continent is experiencing a surging demand for higher education.
00:07But is the education system ready for them?
00:10Some people are doing computer education, and most of them have never even learned how to put on the computer.
00:17Some are doing many things, but they go to the library, you don't even have the books.
00:22The books you have are the books of 1990s.
00:24What is the continent's future if it cannot invest in a commodity so desired by its young people?
00:32Welcome to the Flipside.
00:34Since 2000, there has been a massive increase in African students studying abroad.
00:41Over 600,000 young minds left the continent in 2020 alone.
00:46According to the 2024 World University Rankings, South Africa's University of Cape Town ranks 271 out of 2,000 universities globally.
00:58No other African university makes it into the top 200, and so many talented students seek expensive education abroad, often incurring massive debts.
01:09Imagine paying upwards of between $14,000 to $77,000 just for a degree.
01:19No, I won't spend that much money on studying abroad.
01:23That money is enough to set me up and build my own personal businesses.
01:27While some return to good jobs because of the quality of education received elsewhere,
01:32there is the question of whether the amount spent on their foreign education can generate a good return on investment.
01:40Here back at home, many study, they go right up to the doctoral level and they end up being jobless, pushing the truck in the market.
01:50Here is the shocker.
01:52Developed countries actively recruit skilled African medical professionals like doctors and nurses.
01:58This talent, nurtured by African families and academic institutions, benefits foreign health care systems.
02:06But what are the pull and push factors for those who still believe foreign education is better, irrespective of the cost?
02:15I do believe that the program there is less stressful.
02:20I mean, why not? Just why not? It's good to travel, it's to be a wonderful, or hopefully, a wonderful experience.
02:28There's no need to carry your hard-earned money and travel overseas for education.
02:32You can complete your master's, your PhD and your undergraduate degree here.
02:37So why can't African countries invest in higher learning institutions, attracting students from all over the world, like in the olden days?
02:46It's as a result of the instability in the educational sector.
02:49Equipping Africa's youth with relevant skills is crucial for the continent's future.
02:56Partnering with Africa to create a world-class university isn't just charity.
03:02It's a strategic investment.
03:04If Africa wants to break the cycle of poverty and unemployment plaguing the continent, then it needs to invest massively in higher education.
03:14The continent needs to create a future where Africa educates its own for Africa.
03:21And that's the flip side.