30, 000 Chinese scholarship for students: A new platform for Africa’s education development

The relentless effort of the Chinese government to save the world from poverty is an opportunity that every human on this planet would like  to grab. The enhancement and furtherance of a win-win situation has benefited millions of Africans as China claims partnership is at the heart of its higher education cooperation with its sister countries in Africa. There has been lots of diversified and productive communication between China and Africa countries as part of the longstanding relationship.

University partnerships between China and Africa can be traced in the 1980s and 1990s wherein, many domestic universities on the Chinese side now have African and other continents students studying on various fields.

There was a rise in target numbers for short-term trainees to 30,000 and long-term students to 18,000 over the 2012–2015 triennium. This is because China continues to believe that the direct exposure of students and trainees to their own development experience is vital. Moreover, serious students from Africa find it easier, in terms of visas etc., to access universities in China than those in many European countries. The apparent ease and speed with which China still appears to be able to organise access for this diverse range of short and long-term training is noteworthy.

Some African Students currently studying in China

This year, the Chinese government pledged its continuous support towards the development of education in Africa.

In 2016, China provided 10, 000 scholarships for various skills of studies, which is part of 40, 349 scholarships awarded in the past five years.

The Forum for China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has provided lots of opportunities and achievements for student exchange, Chinese learning and the much needed win-win cooperation.

China is building a platform for Chinese and Africa Universities in the 20+20 higher education collaboration, which is a framework that is encouraging multilateral programs at all levels for African Students to benefit.

Xu Tao, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges in the Ministry of Education told African Journalists that this is part of a platform in China’s reaching out to the world that has provided good cooperation in learning and other educational opportunities. “We have realized that talents in applied technologies are limited in Africa, we have therefore establish a system for Africans to explore new models,” he said, adding that China has strengthened its African Studies and talent exposure to enhance sustainable development and cultural exchanges, which is why 20 Chinese Universities have set up African Institutes.

Liu Honjie, Director of the Division of Comprehensive Reforms, Department of Vocational and Adult Education in the Education Ministry, said China has 12, 000 Higher Learning and Middle Level Vocational Schools with 30 million students as at 2016. “We are taking 50% of the share of higher and middle level education in the country,” he said, noting that they see Africans as key partners in the education system. “We have developed a sound and deepening industrial and educational cooperation with Africa. This is part of our taking vocational education to the world, and also part of the Belt and Road Initiative.”

Sierra Leone is one of the countries that have enjoyed Chinese scholarships over the years. There are 622 Sierra Leonean students currently in China, of which 183 are on scholarships.

In 2016, 49 deserving Sierra Leonean students arrived in various universities for the 2016/2017 academic year, amongst them, 7 to pursue PhD courses in different fields, 38 for Masters and 4 for undergraduate Bachelor courses. Of the 49, 15 females and 2 out of the 15 females are pursing PhDs.

Students' president in China, Saidu M. Sesay (Master’s Degree Graduate), sees it as “a clear manifestation of the People’s Republic of China's continued fulfilment of its commitment to students in Africa.” These students are expected to go back to their countries to help develop their various fields of study after graduation.

Abu Bakarr Kargbo is a Senior Staff Writer of Standard Times Newspaper in Sierra Leone and an intern at People’s Daily Online.