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Critical Issues in Higher Education in Africa

Lisa A. Maroni, EducationUSA Regional Manager (REAC) for East and Southern Africa �Fatou Badiane-Toure, EducationUSA Regional Manager (REAC) for West and Central Africa

A U.S. Department of State Network

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Outline

Introduction to the EducationUSA Network
Top senders to community colleges
Academic systems in Sub-Saharan Africa
Tips on the context, culture and yield
Recruitment Opportunities
Study Abroad Engagement
Q&A

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Lisa A. Maroni

EducationUSA Regional Manager (REAC) for East and Southern Africa

Fatou Badiane-Toure

EducationUSA Regional Manager (REAC) for West & Central Africa

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The EducationUSA Network

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EDUCATIONUSA: WHAT WE DO

Promote U.S. higher education by connecting international students to American institutions.

Support U.S. higher education community internationalization through international student recruitment and retention plans. We promote all accredited U.S. institutions equally.

Engage with foreign institutions and governments regarding their student mobility to the U.S.

We help students and institutions find their own “best fit.”

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Finding Best Fit includes regularly reminding students their best fit may be a school they’ve never heard of.We help spread the message about community colleges ��The EducationUSA network supports ECA’s mission by increasing international student mobility, providing students from across the globe with access to educational opportunities, and building a broader understanding of the global higher education sector among government and academic personnel from around the world.

How else to engage-

EducationUSA promotes all accredited U.S. higher education institutions equally. We don’t tell students where they should go, but give them tools so they can find out about the entire range of options, and find the best fit for their goals. We also support institutions directly by engaging them on their internationalization plans, and helping them find the right way to reach out in different markets around the world. We engage with foreign institutions and governments regarding student mobility to the US., for example on foreign government scholarship programs.

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EDUCATIONUSA ADVISERS

Your Global International �Recruitment Resource

EducationUSA advisers are international education professionals trained by the U.S. Department of State to guide students through the “5 Steps to U.S. Study” process.

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Extensively trained to support students applying for U.S. Education.��EducationUSA advisers are international education professionals trained by the Dept of State to guide students through the process of applying to study in the United States, and deal with all related topics, for example financial aid, visas, and the application process.

They provide unbiased information about opportunities to study at any and all accredited U.S. post secondary institutions – including our unique, academically rigorous, and diverse community college sector.

Increasingly community colleges are seen overseas as a means to address concerns about the cost of U.S. higher education and EducationUSA is actively promoting community colleges, demystifying associates degrees, and highlighting 2+2 models with 4 year institutions.

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Academic Systems

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Top Sending Countries to Community Colleges

Three African countries among top-25 senders to community college in 2023/24:

Nigeria (#11; 2.2% of total CC enrollment)
Kenya (#18; 1.2% of total CC enrollment)
DRC-Kinshasa (#24; 1.0% total CC enrollment)
South Africa
Ethiopia
Côte d’Ivoire
Ghana
Zimbabwe
Tanzania
Equatorial Guinea�(Source: Open Doors)

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Sub-Saharan Africa - Big Picture

Diverse education systems influenced by colonial legacies
Strong emphasis on national exams

They often determine accessibility to university programs

Growing demand for affordable and practical higher education programs
Varying levels of English proficiency
Capacity issues in higher education institutions can drive students to look at alternative countries for study

Idemudia, Erhabor & Boehnke, Klaus. (2020). Gathering the Data. 10.1007/978-3-030-48347-0_7.

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International Academic programs in the region

Cambridge O’Level and A’Level in private schools

Note: Some schools in Nigeria offer IGCSE and WAEC at senior secondary school level

IB-DP programs

Prominent in private and international schools

French Baccalaureate schools -AEFE
AP

Rare, but available in some private or American curriculum schools

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Baccalaureate - BAC (Francophone Countries)

University entrance qualification exam modeled after the French system
Completed after 13 years of schooling (6-4-3)
Students choose a stream after middle school - Sciences (S1 or C - maths & physics concentration, S2 or D natural sciences concentration), Literature (L or A), G (commerce),Technical/vocational (E/F)

Graded over 20, 10/20 is minimum average score to pass, students with an average between 8.00-9.99/20 qualify for make-up exams on core subjects
Exams in June-July
English classes start in middle school but governments are now introducing English in primary schools

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WAEC - West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination

Examining Board of English speaking speaking West African countries: Nigeria, Ghana , Sierra Leone, Liberia and Gambia
Administered in August -September in Ghana and April-June 2025 in all other countries
Consists of 6 core subjects (English, Maths, 1 Science, 1 Literature, Agricultural science or at least one vocational subject, 1 Nigerian language) + up to 3 electives (commerce, literature, science, vocational)
12 year system (6-3-3)
Largest exam administered in the region, 2,455,063 candidates in 2024
Grading system A1-C6(50%)-Pass grades, F9 (39% and below)-Fail
Other exams you might hear about in Nigeria: JAMB, NECO

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Other Academic programs in the region

Cameroon’s Dual Education system: Bilingual system offering

Baccalaureate - French system
GCE A-levels - based on the British System but administered by Cameroon GCE board (not Cambridge): 13 years of schooling 6-5 (O’Level)- 2 (A’Level)
Exams in May-June

Democratic Republic of Congo: Diplome d’Etat

Baccalaureate - 12 years of schooling 6-2-4
Scored on 100-point scale pass is 50
Exams in June-July
Note that many students from DRC reside in other countries - Kenya, South Africa etc.

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Kenya

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE’s)
National Exam that tests: English, Kiswahili, Math, Science (2), Humanities (1) and applied subjects (1)
Determines university placement/course eligibility
12-point scoring system; minimum 7 points to pass
Administered: Oct-Dec (Results in March)
12-year system: 2-6-6 - Changed in 2017
Recommended times to visit: Mid-January-February, May-June

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Ethiopia

Ethiopian School Leaving Certificate Examination (May)

National Exam - After grade 12.
No longer have a test after grade 10
Until recently, required for university placement
International school student may not take it

Two Testing Tracks ~50% is passing:

Natural Science: 7 subjects: Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English, Civic & Ethical Education) - 700 points
Social Science: 6 subjects: History, Geography, Economics, English, Civic & Ethical Education, Math- basic - 600 points

12 year system: 4-4-2-2
Big transition happening: universities becoming autonomous from MOE; some will have their own entrance exams soon
Challenge/Opportunity: In 2023 and 2024, test passage rates plummeted to 3%
Recommended Time to Recruit: October-January/April-May

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This could be promising for community colleges who can support students with skill gaps and give them a pathway to complete university. They set the pass rate for the national exam each year; sometimes varied by gender. Entrance interview better than ignoring grades.��EducationUSA advisers are international education professionals trained by the Dept of State to guide students through the process of applying to study in the United States, and deal with all related topics, for example financial aid, visas, and the application process.

They provide unbiased information about opportunities to study at any and all accredited U.S. post secondary institutions – including our unique, academically rigorous, and diverse community college sector.

Increasingly community colleges are seen overseas as a means to address concerns about the cost of U.S. higher education and EducationUSA is actively promoting community colleges, demystifying associates degrees, and highlighting 2+2 models with 4 year institutions.

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South Africa

Matric exams (aka National Senior Certificate (NSC))
National Exam typically in Oct/Nov
Covers 4 required subjects (Language, additional language, mathematics or math literacy, life orientation) and 3 elective subjects from different streams (i.e. history, geography, accounting, business, tourism, physical or life sciences, etc.)
Also requires a school based assessment component (25%)
Must earn 40% in 3 subjects including language, and 30% in 3 other subjects to earn certificate.

Three pass levels determine entrance to higher education:

Higher Certificate Pass (40% in in 5 subjects, 30% in 2)
Diploma Pass (40% in 4 subjects, 30% in 3)
Bachelor’s Pass (50% in 4 subjects, 40% in 2, 30% in 1)

School system is 13 years: 1-3-3-3-3
Tip: South African students are interested in athletics options at community college

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Recruitment Tips

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Regional Outreach Tips

Education is often a family-centered decision
Build direct engagement (in-person or virtual) whenever possible

Approachable, warm, consistent communication

Keep local languages and dialect differences in mind
Know before you go: academic, holiday and election calendars vary

Note: some academic calendars shifted during COVID

Many students are researching your institution from their phones

Optimize for mobile devices
Ensure your domain is not blocking countries in the region

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Recruitment & Yield Tips

Build understanding of the community college pathway
Engagement is key & parents are important decision makers
Success stories help
Relationships matter! Showing up helps
Leverage local stakeholders and trusted voices: school counselors, alumni, current students
Personalize engagement post-admissions

Why enroll at your institution
Financial plan & housing options

Provide guidance for visa application and pre-arrival support

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Resources & Opportunities

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Opportunities �

Armchair Recruitment

Webinars
Virtual Fairs
Meet & Greets

�In Person Recruitment

Fair Circuits
Education Recruitment Tours
Small group travel

�Yield

Virtual Yield Events
Pre-Departure Orientation (Send students, Present)

Bring AF to You

Invite counselors/advisers to your campus

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Learn more and Keep in Touch:

Contact an Adviser:

Ask a Regional Manager -or-
https://educationusa.state.gov/find-advising-center ��

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Study Abroad on the Continent

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A Snapshot of Study Abroad in Sub-Saharan Africa

��

Top Destinations:

South Africa (3,568 students)
Ghana (1,444 students)
Kenya (1,024 students)
Tanzania (910 students)
Rwanda (400 students)

Total number of study abroad students in the region in 2022/23: 9,163�

Source: Open Doors 2022/23

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Opportunities

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Many higher education institutions are open to partnering to host study abroad experiences
U.S. Embassy can help identify institutions interested in partnerships
Third party providers can support with program design, as well

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Q&A

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Let’s Keep In Touch!

Lisa A. Maroni

Regional Manager (REAC): East and Southern Africa (Based in Nairobi, Kenya)

Email:lmaroni@educationusa.org

Fatou Badiane-Toure

Regional Manager (REAC): West and Central Africa (Based in Dakar, Senegal)

Email: fbadianetoure@educationusa.org

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