The second volume of the African Higher Education Dynamics Series brings together the research of an international network of higher education scholars with interest in higher education and student politics in Africa. Most authors are early career academics who teach and conduct research in universities across the continent and came together for a research project, and related workshops and a symposium on student representation in African higher education governance.The book includes theoretical chapters on student organising, student activism and representation; chapters on historical and current developments in student politics in Anglophone and Francophone Africa, and in-depth case studies on student representation and activism in a cross-section of universities and countries.The book provides a unique resource for academics, university leaders and student affairs professionals as well as student leaders and policy-makers in Africa and elsewhere.
African Minds Higher Education Dynamics Series Vol. 2
Student Politics in Africa: Representation and Activism
Edited byhierry M Luescer, Manja Klemenčič and James Otieno Jowi
A NOTE ABOUT THE PEER REVIEW PROCESS his open access publication forms part of te African Minds peer reviewed, academic books list, te broad mission of wic is to support te dissemination of African scolarsip and to foster access, openness and debate in te pursuit of growing and deepening te African knowledge base. Student Politics in Africa: Representation and Activismwas reviewed by two external peers wit expert knowledge in iger education in general and in African iger education in particular. Copies of te reviews are available from te publiser on request.
First publised in 2016 by African Minds 4 Eccleston Place, Somerset West 7130, Cape Town, Sout Africa info@africanminds.org.za www.africanminds.org.za
2016 African Minds
his work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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CONTENTS
Acronyms and abbreviations Acknowledgements Foreword
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Introduction Tierry M Luescer, Manja Klemenčič and James Otieno Jowi
Student organising in African iger education: Polity, politics and policies Manja Klemenčič, Tierry M Luescer and Taabo Mugume
Student representation in a context of democratisation and massification in Africa: Analytical approaces, teoretical perspectives and #RodesMustFall Tierry M Luescer
he evolving nature of student participation in university governance in Africa: An overview of policies, trends and emerging issues Ibraim Oanda
he tree ages of student politics in Francopone Africa: Learning from te cases of Senegal and Burkina Faso Pascal Biancini
Revisiting student participation in iger education governance at te University of Buea, Cameroon: 2004–2013 Samuel N Fongwa and Godlove N Cifon
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1
9
27
61
85
109
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
: STUDENT POLITICS IN AFRICA REPRESENTATION AND ACTIVISM
Student participation in te governance of Etiopian iger education institutions: he case of Addis Ababa University Bekele Workie Ayele
Private iger education and student representation in Uganda: A comparative analysis of Makerere University and Uganda Cristian University Taabo Mugume and Mesarc W Katusiime
Student actions against paradoxical post-aparteid iger education policy in Sout Africa: he case of te University of te Western Cape Mlungisi BG Cele, Tierry M Luescer and Teresa Barnes
he University of Burundi and student organisations: Governance system, political development and student representation Gérard Birantamije
Politicisation of te National Union of Gana Students and its effects on student representation Ransford EV Gyampo, Emmanuel Debra and Evans Aggrey-Darko
Chapter 12 Conclusion James Otieno Jowi
Epilogue
Students, politics and universities: In searc of interpretive scemes for te 21st century Lis Lange
About te autors Index
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162
182
202
224
244
249
252 257
ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
AAU AEF AEOM AESF AEVF AEVO ADDEC AGED AIDS AMEAN ANC ANEB AOF ASSER ASV AUC BA BAdmin BCom BLib BParm BSc BIF BMD BSU CC CCM CCNY
Addis Ababa University Afrique équatoriale française Association des étudiants originaires de Madagascar Association des étudiants sénégalais en FranceAssociation des étudiants voltaïques en France Association des étudiants voltaïques de OuagadougouAssociation pour la défense de droits des étudiants du Cameroon Association générale des étudiants de Dakar Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Association musulmane des étudiants d’Afrique noire African National Congress Association nationale des étudiants burkinabé Afrique occidentale française Association des étudiants de RumuriAssociation des scolaires voltaïques de Dakar African Union Commission Bacelor of Arts Bacelor of Administration Bacelor of Commerce Bacelor of Library Science Bacelor of Parmacy Bacelor of Science Burundian Franc Bacelor-Master-Doctorate Botswana Student Union Central Committee Cama Ca Mapinduzi Carnegie Corporation of New York
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CDP CED CERFOPAX CESUP CDR CHET CFA CGER CGT-B CMPRN CNTS CODESRIA CODMPP CPP CSV CUE DARUSO DUSO ENA ENS EPRDF ESU FEANF FELD FER FESCI FLN FPI GCSU GER GET Fund GNSO GNUPS GPA GRASAG GRC GUPS HEI HELP HERANA ICT
: STUDENT POLITICS IN AFRICA REPRESENTATION AND ACTIVISM
Congrès pour la démocratie et le progress Coordination des étudiants de Dakar Centre de recerce et de formation pour la paix Centre d’études supérieures Comité de défense de la Révolution Centre for Higer Education Trust Central African Republic Franc Cercle général des étudiants de Rumuri Confédération générale du travail du Burkina Comité pour le redressement patriotique et le salut national Confédération nationale des travailleurs du Sénégal Council for te Development of Social Science Researc in Africa Collectif des organisations démocratiques de masses et de partis politiques Convention People’s Party Confédération des syndicats voltaïques Commission for Universities Education Dar es Salaam University Students’ Organization Dar es Salaam University Students’ Organization Ecole nationale d’administration Ecole normale supérieure Etiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front European Students’ Union Fédération des étudiants d’Afrique noire en France Fédération des étudiants libres de DakarFraternité des étudiants de Rumuri Fédération des étudiants et scolaires de Côte d’Ivoire Front de libération nationale Front populaire IvoirienGold Coast Students’ Union Gross Enrolment Ratio Gana Education Trust Fund Gana National Students’ Organisation Gana National Union of Polytecnic Students Grade Point Average Graduate Students Association of Gana Guild Representative Council Gana Union of Professional Students Higer education institution Higer Education in Africa Leadersip Programme Higer Education Researc and Advocacy Network in Africa Information and Communication Tecnology
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IEA IHED IMF ISSER IUIU KUSA LLB MAK MBDHP MEEL MEOCAM MLN MoE MoFED MUPSA MUWATA NASSO NCHE NEC NDC NPP NPU NRM NSFAS NUGS NUSO OCAU OCV ODJ OSPHERA OUB PAI PALIPEHUTU PCD PCRV PDS PRA RDA RDR RNDP
A CRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
Institute of Economic Affairs Institute des ates études de Dakar International Monetary Fund Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Researc Islamic University in Uganda Kenya University Students’ Association Bacelor of Law Makerere University Mouvement burkinabé des droits de l’omme et des peuples Mouvement des étudiants et élèves libéraux Mouvement des étudiants de l’organisation commune africaine et malgaceMouvement de libération nationale Ministry of Education Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Makerere University Private Students Association Muungano wa Wanafunzi Tanzania National Association of Socialist Students’ Organisations National Commission on Higer Education National Executive Committee National Democratic Congress New Patriotic Party Nigerian Progress Union National Resistance Movement National Students Financial Aid Sceme National Union of Gana Students Nairobi University Student Organisation Office de coopération et d’accueil universitaire Organisation communiste voltaïque Organisation démocratique de la jeunesse Observatory of Student Politics and Higer Education Researc in Africa Official University of Bujumbura Parti africain de l’indépendance Parti pour la libération du peuple Hutu Communist Party of Daomey Parti communiste révolutionnaire voltaïque Parti démocratique sénégalais Parti du regroupement africain Rassemblement démocratique africainRassemblement des démocrates républicains Révolution nationale démocratique et populaire
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TUDENTPOLITICSINAFRICA:SENTATIONANDACTIVISM S REPRE
RSRCs Regional SRCs of senior ig scools SAP Structural Adjustment Programme SAPA Sout African Press Association SASCO Sout African Students Congress SAUS Sout African Union of Students SC Student Council SCM Student Credit Management SCNC Soutern Cameroons National Council SDF Social Democratic Front SESSyndicat des enseignants du SénégalSET Science, Engineering and Tecnology SHE Studies in Higer Education SLTF Student Loan Trust Fund SONU Student Organisation of Nairobi University SRC Student Representative Council SSNIT Social Security and National Insurance Trust SU Student Union SUL Student Union Legislation SUVESSSyndicat unique voltaïque de l’enseignement secondaire et supérieur SYNTERSyndicat des travailleurs de l’enseignement et de la recerce SYNTRAGMIHSyndicat des travailleurs de la géologie des mines et ydrocarburesSYNTSHASyndicat des travailleurs de la santé umaine et animale TANU Tanganyika African National Union TCU Tanzania Commission for Universities TEIN Tertiary Educational Institution Network TESCON Tertiary Education Students Confederacy TTAG Teacer Trainees Association of Gana TYL Tanzania Yout League UAD Union of African Descent UB University of Burundi UB University of Buea UBSU University of Buea Student Union UCU Uganda Cristian University UCAA University College of Addis Ababa UCT University of Cape Town UDESUnion démocratique des étudiants du Sénégal UDSM University of Dar es Salaam UEDUnion des étudiants de Dakar UGAG Unemployed Graduates Association of Gana UGEAOUnion générale des étudiants de l’Afrique de l’Ouest UGEMAUnion générale des étudiants musulmans d’Algérie
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UG UGER UGEV UK ULC UN UNAPES UNCHE UNEBA UNEEM UNESCO UniYao UNTS UON UPC UPC UPRONA UPS USA USAG USARF USD USL USN UWC VC WASU ZINASU
A CRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
University of Gana Union Générale des Etudiants de Rumuri Union générale des étudiants voltaïques United Kingdom Union des luttes communistes United Nations Union nationale patriotique des étudiants du Sénégal Uganda National Council for Higer Education Union Nationale des Etudiants Barundi Union nationale des élèves et des étudiants du MaliUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization University of Yaoundé Union nationale des travailleurs du Sénégal University of Nairobi Union des populations du Cameroun Union pour le cangementUnion pour le Progrès national Union progressive sénégalaise United States of America University Students Association of Gana University Students African Revolutionary Front United States Dollar University Senate Legislation Union des scolaires nigériens University of te Western Cape Vice-cancellor West African Students’ Union Zimbabwe National Students’ Union
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Te realisation of te projectStudent Representation in Higer Education Governance in Africa, te related autors’ symposium and worksop, and eventually te publication and launc of te bookStudent Politics in Africa: Representation and Activismand its companion publication, te special issue ‘Student Power in Africa’ of teJournal of Student Affairs in Africa(Vol. 3, Issue 1, 2015), would not ave been possible witout te encouragement, scolarly advice, and funding provided by te Carnegie Corporation of New York (CCNY Grant Number: D 14034) and particularly by Prof. Tade Akin Aina and Ms Claudia Frittelli. We are also indebted to a good number of iger education experts, worksop facilitators, speakers and presenters wo participated in te August 2014 symposium and worksop in Cape Town, wic brougt te autors togeter to discuss teir proposals and draft papers and to agree on a number of common concepts, perspectives and concerns. Our tanks go to te presenters of special contributions, in particular Dr Leo Zeilig, Ms Eve Gray, Prof. Nico Cloete, Ms Felicity Gallager and Mr François van Scalkwyk. We would also like to tank Ms Angela Mias for te organisation and administration of te symposium and worksop. Lastly, our tanks go to te series editors ofAfrican Higer Education Dynamicsand te anonymous reviewers of te book manuscript for teir critical comments and support. Tis project started wit a call for papers in 2013, followed by ongoing extensive collaboration between autors and editors. Wile te symposium and worksop mentioned above presented an opportunity to meet pysically, tere was ongoing collaboration using te internet, Dropbox, Skype and email. We are pleased tat te project as resulted in a new network of emerging and establised African iger education researcers wo are working in universities across te continent as well as in te diaspora, and tat tis network is continuing and expanding in te form of a virtual researc centre, teObservatory of Student Politics and Higer Education Researc in Africa(www.ospera.net).
Te Editors
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FOREWORD THE IMPORTANCE AND COMPLEXITY OF STUDENTS IN POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE
1 Pilip G. Altbac
Universities would not exist witout students. Students are at te eart of te academic enterprise. It is wort remembering tat some of te earliest universities, in medieval Italy, were establised and managed by students. In te 21st century, in te era of massification, students are often seen as burdens, customers, or sources of income, but seldom as te key rationale for te university. Carefully examining te appropriate role for students in universities is necessary in a period of dramatic and often traumatic cange for iger education, but is not an easy task. It is wort noting tat in istory te concept of ‘student power’ as not been a dominant force. In te medieval period in Europe, te struggle between te idea of te student-run universities in Italy and te faculty-dominated universities in Paris and elsewere was won decisively by faculty power. Students were simply unable to provide te leadersip and long-range perspective needed. In modern istory, ‘student power’ as ad a complex international istory. Student participation in university governance in Latin America was institutionalised in te Argentine Reform movement of 1918 tat eventually affected most of te public universities on te continent. It was only te military dictatorsips of te 1960s tat weakened Latin American student power in some countries. Te student movements of te 1960s in many countries introduced or strengtened student participation in governance – for example in Germany and a number of oter continental European nations. Altoug tere were powerful student activist movements in suc countries as te United States, te United Kingdom, Japan, and oters, tere was little impact on governance and students did not gain significant participation. It is also significant tat universities in all European countries rolled back te reforms of te 1960s, and today students in general ave a voice, but not major power in governance.
1 Pilip G Altbac is Researc Professor and Founding Director, Center for International Higer Education, Boston College, USA. Email: pilip.altbac@bc.edu