Science Education in Africa

G. Burkhardt's reflections here on the development of science education in Africa are based on his observations during the six months he spent in 1963–64 as visiting professor of physics at the University of Ghana. Of his experiences he writes: “Six months is hardly long enough to become acquainted with the numerous problems of higher education in Africa, and is certainly not sufficiently long to become informed of the entire situation. But the time was long enough to gain an impressive view of their great efforts to overcome their difficulties, of their optimistic belief in progress through education, and last but not least of their open-mindedness and warm hospitality.”This article is based upon a working paper prepared for the Fourteenth Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs. The author is director of the Institute of Theoretical Physics at the Higher Technical School, Hanover, Germany, and has been appointed director of the Unesco department of advancement of science.