Cost sharing in higher education is a policy that comes from the United States. The policy advocates that costs of higher education should be shared between the government, parents, students and/or donor organizations. Proponents of the policy (such as the World Bank) have over the years been advocating for its implementation in African countries.…

Three universal demands characterize higher education globally: the demand for higher quality, for increased access, and for greater equity. In East Africa, where resources are highly constrained, no nation has been able to meet these demands on the basis of public expenditures alone. Instead countries have had to increase resources from nonpublic…

African universities, with declining public resources, are increasingly dependent on private financial support for basic expenses. A study at two universities (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique) illustrates the seriousness of the problem and some of the issues. Better planning and coordination of fund raising is called for,…