First regional university aims to ensure equal opportunities

The official inauguration of the University of Fénérive-Est in Madagascar has taken place. It is the first of several new regional public universities being built to reduce Madagascar’s deficit of student places.

The university, located in the north-east region of Analanjirofo, is already operating with courses in law, management, business and finance, and agriculture-based specialisations, reported L’Express de Madagascar.

There are 700 students attending so far, with eventual capacity for 1,500; and the first 160 student residents should move in soon, after the connection of the water supply has been completed, reported L’Express.

Andry Rajoelina, the president of Madagascar, presided at the inaugural ceremony. “It is to ensure equality of opportunities for our young people that the state has undertaken the construction of universities in the regions, like here in Analanjirofo,” L’Express reported him saying.

He stressed the aim was to democratise access to universities and respond to the lack of places in the public institutions. He pointed out that, although about 80,000 school-leavers passed their baccalauréat examinations each year, entitling them to higher education, the public universities had places for only 40,000.

Low-income families would be able to send their children to universities in their area, rather than having to spend a lot of money for them to attend a distant higher education institution, L’Express reported him saying.

The teaching staff currently consisted of 12 tenured and 50 non-permanent personnel, reported L’Express. Three academics specialised in marine sciences and biodiversity from Le Mans University in France were due to arrive to help establish a course in the discipline.

In line with the aim for the regional universities to respond to local and national needs, Fénérive-Est is planning to introduce courses including tourism, arts and crafts, humanities and social sciences, reported L’Express. – Compiled by Jane Marshall.

This article is drawn from local media. University World News cannot vouch for the accuracy of the original reports.