World Bank's verdict on Africa's tertiary education

The researchers also note that even although many countries have publicly financed research institutes to spearhead innovation, many of the institutions are "fragile, under-resourced and vulnerable to political vagaries."

Lately, Kenyan public universities have been striving to acquire International certification with regard to management processes. Kenyatta and Nairobi Universities are already ISO certified.

However, even with the high managerial standards, the stretched facilities are doing no good to the huge number of students crammed in lecture halls.

Tertiary institutions, the report says, "lack the autonomy to make decisions and the flexibility to adapt to changing labour markets."

This could be the reason for the high number of unemployed graduates, since the curricula, though revised, lacks adequate input from employers.

Mismatches between the education provided and job requirements in the market are cited as the very reason for the high graduate unemployment.

Many employer surveys have revealed that most graduates are "weak in problem solving, business understanding, computer use, team work and communication skills."

The study gives several options: increased funds for research, incentives to researchers for attaining policy goals, taxes to support tertiary education.

It also proposes that all "non-strategic overseas scholarship funds" be redirected to boost local teaching, learning and research quality.

The responsibility of attracting investment in tertiary education and research is squarely placed on the Government. The study proposes that institutions be granted autonomy accompanied by appropriate accountability mechanisms to increase opportunities for innovation.