The meeting which attracted about 30 scientists from countries such as Burkina Faso, Mozambique, South Africa and Norway called for a general overhaul of the educational system in developing countries to focus more on science, technology, engineering and mathematics, and creation of specific organisations responsible for research management to ensure that researches are tailored towards national goals and aspirations.

Nazar Hassan, a senior regional science, technology and innovation specialist with the UNESCO Cairo Office, said that shaping the future of researchers would entail developing countries going to the drawing board and implementing the recommendations of the first conference of ministers responsible for the application of science and technology to development in Africa that was held in Dakar, Senegal, in 1974.

Hassan added that the recommendations included the need for African nations to devote one per cent of their gross national product (GDP) to research and development (R&D) by 1980.

This target has proved difficult to achieve, said Hassan, noting that by 1980 most countries allocated only 0.36 per cent of their GDP to R&D.

Hassan added that lack of funding is a problem but there are others such as the low value accorded to researchers, with politicians’ priorities in many African countries having greater considerations than those of scholars.

For the full report by Alex Abutu please see SciDevNet