Higher education financing must balance access with sustainability – Dr. Apaak

Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, has called for a balance between expanding access to higher education and ensuring that student financing systems remain financially sustainable.

The comments come as African countries grapple with growing demand for higher education alongside fiscal constraints and rising costs for students and institutions.

Addressing the Association of African Higher Education Financing Agencies (AAHEFA) conference, Dr. Apaak warned that financing systems could face serious challenges if they focused solely on increasing access without developing sustainable recovery mechanisms.

“A financing system that expands access without a sustainable recovery model will eventually struggle to serve the students it was created to help.”

He also cautioned against placing excessive emphasis on loan recovery without considering the realities graduates face in difficult labour markets.

“Equally, a system focused too heavily on recovery, without regard for the realities graduates face in difficult labour markets, undermines the social purpose of higher education financing altogether.”

Dr. Apaak said the solution lies in striking a balance between financial responsibility and social responsiveness, while bringing government, the private sector and development partners into the financing conversation.

“The answer lies in balance: financial responsibility paired with social responsiveness, stronger government commitment paired with increasing demand for higher education, private-sector participation, development finance, and innovative partnerships that expand what is possible without compromising what is essential.”

He said African countries have an opportunity through AAHEFA to share lessons, strengthen financing systems and develop innovative approaches that can expand access to tertiary education.