The evolution of professional education and health systems in sub-Saharan Africa

Chapter 14 charts the development of professional education in sub-Saharan Africa from the pre-colonial period, into the colonial and through to the twenty-first century. It shows how pioneering leaders have worked creatively to overcome the shortages of people and resources, and provided trained people to meet the most pressing needs in their countries. It invokes the need for cooperation with a wide range of international partners but also discusses that, while in providing opportunities for education, it has also provided opportunities for emigration. It covers the importance of intellectual rigour married to a thorough understanding of local circumstances, and that policies represent the needs and wants of local populations.