Madagascar

Population: 17.867 million (2006)
GDP per capita: US$309 (2006)
Human Development Index (HDI): 0.533
Unemployment Levels: 50% (2004 est.)
Key Economic Sectors: Mining, Agriculture, Industry and Tourism
Principal Exports: Textile and Clothing, Coffee, Vanilla, Clove, Pepper, Cocoa, Litchis, Prawns, Mining Products and Crafts
HIV & AIDS Prevalence: 0.13% (2007 estimate)
Gross Primary Enrolment Ratio: 139 (2006)
Gross Secondary Enrolment Ratio: 24 (2002)
Gross Tertiary Enrolment Ratio: 3 (2006)
 Source: Country context data was obtained from a variety of sources: (CIA, 2008; SADC, 2008; UNAIDS, 2008; UNDP, 2008; UNESCO Institute for Statistics, 2006)
Madagascar

 

Historical Background

THIS INDIAN Ocean island is rich in natural wonders. It has been estimated that of the approximately 200 000 species and sub-species existing on Madagascar, as many as 150 000 are unique to the island. Half the world’s species of chameleons, for example, are found nowhere else than in Madagascar. The reason for this can be attributed to the island’s long isolation from the continents on either side. As part of East Gondwana, it split from Africa about 160-million years ago; and then split from the Indian sector of East Gondwana around 70-million years later. Through all the thousands of intervening millennia, Madagascar drifted and evolved without the presence of people...Read more.

National Education System Overview

Madagascar’s education system is divided into primary, first cycle secondary, technical secondary, and second cycle secondary education. This is followed by tertiary education, which offers studies at University level as well as at non-university level, including post-secondary studies in technical and vocational skills (International Association of Universities (IAU) World Higher Education Database, 2003).

According to the Malagasy MoE, there are 30 Institutions of higher learning in Madagascar, distributed as follows.

Type of Higher Education Institutions     

Number of Institutions
Publicly funded universities 6
Publicly funded polytechnics & specialized colleges    2
Publicly funded, accredited universities and colleges     21
National Centre for Media Education (CNTEMAD) 1
TOTAL 30
Source: Madagascar MoE questionnaire response

Policy Context

Madagascar’s education policies are encapsulated in several policies: the Strategic Plan for the Reform and Development of the Education Sector; the Education for all Plan (World Bank, 2005); Foundation of Universities (Directive 92-030) (1992); and Organization of Private Universities (Décret no 95-681) (Bloom et al, 1996). These policies are supported by broader policies that focus on and articulate plans for the overall development of the country, for example the Poverty Reduction Strategy and the Madagascar Action Plan.
 

Higher Education Legislation

Brief Description
Madagascar Action Plan 2007-2012.  Challenge 5: Transform higher education  The goals of this are to:
1. Ensure competitiveness, creativity, employability of the graduates
2.  Scientific and technological research and innovation (socio-economic and cultural development)
3. Offer diversified courses to meet the economic and social needs
4. The governance of public universities will be improved
5. High quality private universities and technical institutes will be developed.1
Source: MRCI Report

List of Statutory Bodies in the Higher Education Sector

Statutory Bodies   

 Brief description        
Ministry of National Education and Scientific research (MENRS)                              MENRS is responsible for overall management and accountability of national education and research.
General Department of post basic education and research (DGEPFR) DGEPRF develops and implements policy related to high school, technical and professional development, higher education, and scientific research.
Directorate General of Higher Education and Research (DGESR) Higher Education and research are currently under-supervision of the DGESR.
Department of Public Higher Education and the Directorate of Private Higher Education Higher Education is under the guardianship of the Department of Public Higher Education and the Directorate of Private Higher Education.
COPRIES COPRIES is an organ of advice on harmonization and coordination in international and national level action to execute policy in relation to Higher Education and Research by forming partnerships with companies, universities, centres of research, and laboratories and other organizations.

 

Funding Data

Public Expenditure on Education as a % of Gross National Income (GNI) No data
% Education budget allocated to higher education 10%
Loan/Grant scheme in place Yes
Source: SARUA (2008) – Pillay report

Science and Technology

Key Indicators

Madagascar
R&D Intensity [The ratio of Gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) to Gross Domestic Product (GDP)]   0.12% (2000)         
ISI Output (Number of papers published in the 7500+ journals of the ISI Web of Science)           1990-1995: 235
1996-2001: 405
2002-2007: 675
Source: SARUA (2008) – CREST Report

[1] Madagascar Action Plan 2007-2012; A Bold and Exciting Plan for Rapid Development, pp. 57-58 and Fourth PRSC, May 2007, p.10