SECTORAL PERFORMANCE IN THE AFRICAN ECONOMY – SOME ISSUES AND TRENDS

African economies are facing the critical challenge of raising the rate of GDP growth and sustaining high growth rates and thus meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The performance of agriculture is more paradoxical and African exports of industrial goods are dominated by mining and crude oil. The financial systems remain largely underdeveloped both in terms of the size and range of financial instruments and services offered. This article explores the recent growth performance both at the continental and subregional level. It discusses disparities in growth performance and the factors behind the observed disparities across countries and subregions. It also discusses developments at the sectoral level and progress and challenges in human development, closing with a brief exposition of the prospects for 2007. The paper further analyses the HIV/AIDS in the continent and its impact on the economy.African Economy, MDGS, Financial System, Crude Oil, Human Development

VALUE-BASED EDUCATION FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT – ERITREAN PERSPECTIVE

Education is important in any country since it promotes the knowledge, skills, habits, and values. The learning does not solely come from the teacher. Hence the educator for the child is both the teacher and his peer group. The societal values have been diminishing over the past few decades. Therefore, it is necessary develop the holistic citizenship education. The problem of value education of the young African nation Eritrea is gaining prominence in educational discussions during the recent times. Hence, Eritrea emphasises on values in education and attempted to incorporate its National Curriculum Framework for School Education-2003. An attempt is made in this paper to discuss the Eritrean societal values in fighting for their freedom and it provides some conclusions and implications to develop the value education in Eritrea.Value Education, Human Development, Eritrea, Teachers and students, Good citizen

CHALLENGES IN INTRODUCING DISTANCE EDUCATION PROGRAMME IN ERITREA:Some Observations and Implications

All over the world, distance mode of education is gaining a momentum and becoming more popular than conventional education. It is a system in which schools, universities and other educational agencies offer instruction wholly or partly by mail. Eritrea is a newly independent country in Africa is been facing many challenges particularly in its education sector. It did not have more educational institutions at tertiary level. Thus the distance learning is the best option for this country. An attempt is made in this paper to discuss various problems related to the establishment and development of distance education. It also provides the distance education programmes so far undertaken in the country with concluding remarks.Distance Education, Eritrea, Ministry of Education, Asmara University

THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC DOWNTURN AND AFRICAN ECONOMY – RECENT TRENDS AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) is crucial in spurring economic growth and poverty reduction in developing countries, especially in the context of globalization and liberalization. For that reason there is in existence, intense competition among developed and developing countries to attract FDI (IFC, 2007). According to the World Bank, while 2007 was a record year for FDI to developing economies, the credit crunch will greatly impede this progress as foreign direct investment (FDI) and equity investment are come under pressure. The impact of the crisis on developing countries of Africa will affect different types of international resource flows: private capital flows such as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), portfolio flows and international lending; official flows such as development finance institutions; and capital and current transfers such as official development assistance and remittances. The global economic crisis has tested the strength and reliance of many economies around the globe particularly in Africa, resulting in the collapse of large financial institutions, the “bail out†of banks by national governments and downturns in stock markets around the world. The current study seeks to investigate the impact the wake of ongoing global Economic downturn on the FDIs to Africa with a particular focus on Namibia. Namibia currently struggles with the problem of high unemployment rates and the current global economic crisis is likely to worsen the situation.global economy, Africa, Namibia, foreign direct investment, economic growth, stock market

Premarital Sex – Lessons from American Experience

All over the world and in most of the current society and culture, most people consider premarital sex acceptable and harmless, but the major problem of premarital is sex that it often leads to divorce. The behavior and emotional problems are much higher in premarital sex situations than in marriages. An attempt is made to delve into the problems involved in premarital sex. The paper also provides some research findings of American experience, pointing out some implications for policy development and for the youth.Youth, Society, Culture, Pre-marital sex, Schools and Colleges

MACROECONOMIC MANAGEMENT IN THE WORLD ECONOMY– AN EXPLORATORY NOTE ON AFRICA

In the 1980s, the focus in economic management in Africa shifted towards macroeconomic stabilization policies. This led to the neglect ofsectoral policies and microeconomic reforms, which are critical for industrialization and diversification. In line with this, the African economies continue to sustain the growth momentum for the past few years. However, most African countries’ real growth rates have remained low relative to their development goals. Improved economic management and increases in non-oil commodity prices have more than offset the negative impact of high oil prices on the real GDP of African oil importing economies. African countries also continue to face the challenge of other deadly diseases, especially malaria and HIV/AIDS, remained as the deadly killer diseases in the continent. This paper explores macroeconomic imbalances in the global economy. It delves the recent developments that occurred in the African economy in recent years. It also emphasizes certain diversification policies which are pertinent in the development of African economies.macroeconomic management, World Economy, African Economy, diversification, growth policies, external debt

FINANCING EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN ERITREA – SOME IMPLICATIONS

Education has long been recognized as a central element in development. The human capital formation is receiving increased attention from policy makers and scholars in different parts of the world particularly in developing countries. Eritrea is a newly born nation in Africa and is striving hard to develop its higher education. An attempt is made in this paper to analyze the sources of finance, the strategies and challenges for higher educational development in the country. Furthermore, the paper also delves the development of higher education in the country since independence. The paper provides some implications for the for the policy purpose to develop higher education so as to curb the use of expatriate manpower in different sectors of the economy.Higher Education, Economic Development, Unit costs, Eritrea, Africa, Human capital

Challenges for higher education in eritrea in the post-independent period to the present – a case of asmara university

Eritrean higher education faced numerous challenges over many years. It was particularly suffered during the colonial periods. Eritrea exerted its efforts to develop its dilapidated educational system with the advent of its independence. Eritrea celebrated its sixteenth birthday recently. However, the educational challenges in higher education still remain high. The government of Eritrea established different colleges in different administrative regions. The University of Asmara is the only university in the country that had to be revitalized after its devastation by the 30-year war of independence. Since independence, the University has been able to contribute to the nation’s skill manpower considerably. This paper examines higher education of Eritrea for about 60 years period. It delves the University of Asmara and its birth, development and apogee. The paper also gives some insights on recent educational development in Eritrea.Higher education, Eritrea, Asmara University, Colonial period, Educational development