Educational Considerations - Volume 50 - Article 4 - Reminiscing African Presence in Text

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by dawugda

The article examines how African presence is reflected in textual scholarship across 50 years of open-access publication in Educational Considerations. It outlines the study’s purpose, significance, and guiding research questions, focusing on the number of contributions by African scholars based in Africa, Africa-focused articles, recurring themes, and the methodologies used. The analysis positions these findings as evidence for diversity, equity, inclusion, and improved future research priorities in educational policy and curricula.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time33 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Description of Research

Purpose

Significance

Research Questions

Educational Considerations Volume 50 Number 1 50 Years of Educational Impact Article 4 August 2024 Reminiscing African Presence in Text: A Content Analysis of 50 Years of Published Works in Educational Considerations Ernestina Wiafe Kansas State University, [ernestinawiafe@ksu.edu](ernestinawiafe@ksu.edu) Follow this and additional works at: [https://newprairiepress.org/edconsiderations](https://newprairiepress.org/edconsiderations) Part of the Curriculum and Instruction Commons, and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Commons This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License. Recommended Citation Wiafe, Ernestina (2024) "Reminiscing African Presence in Text: A Content Analysis of 50 Years of Published Works in Educational Considerations," Educational Considerations: Vol. 50: No. 1. [https://doi.org/10.4148/0146-9282.2398](https://doi.org/10.4148/0146-9282.2398) This Article is brought to you for free and open access by New Prairie Press. It has been accepted for inclusion in Educational Considerations by an authorized administrator of New Prairie Press. For more information, please [contact](contact cads@k-state.edu)[ cads@k-state.edu](contact cads@k-state.edu). Reminiscing African Presence in Text: A Content Analysis of 50 Years of Published Works in Educational Considerations Cover Page Footnote I would like to extend my appreciation to all scholars whose articles on Africa facilitated this content analysis and to my mentors, Drs. Kay Ann Taylor and Todd Goodson, for their unwavering support in my academic pursuits. This article is available in Educational Considerations: [https://newprairiepress.org/edconsiderations/vol50/iss1/4](https://newprairiepress.org/edconsiderations/vol50/iss1/4) Reminiscing African Presence in Text: A Content Analysis of 50 Years of Published Works in Educational Considerations Ernestina Wiafe Introduction Higher education in Africa is a luxury, not a human right that is open to all students. The onus falls on affordability, which naturally demands high levels of investment as well as effective policy and governance – not always easy to come by in the continent. As a result, there has been a significant surge in the number of African students seeking higher education abroad. From 2012 to 2017 alone, there was a notable 26% rise in the enrollment of African students in foreign colleges and universities. Among these foreign countries, the United States and Canada prove to be the top destinations for African scholars (ICEF, December 11, 2019) . These institutions provide financial aid, partial or full funding opportunities with stipends, scholarships, and fellowships in exchange for work positions as Graduate Teaching, Research, and Assistantship (GTA, GRA, GA) roles in host institutions. In the U.S. , for instance, 9% of the international scholar workforce are teaching, 4% do research, 8% do both research and teaching, 76% perform various clinical roles, and 3% perform other important functions (National Council for Education Statistics, 2021, 2022) . According to the recently released Institute of International Education, the 2020-2021 academic year witnessed a total enrollment of 39,061 students exclusively from Africa in U.S. universities. Among the African nations, Nigeria boasted the highest number of students studying in the United States with a count of 12,860, followed by Ghana with 4,229 students. Why are these statistics necessary? They are essential for a continued commitment to educational diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for the growing numbers and future of higher education. The United Nations (UN) projects that by 2030, one in every four individuals aged 15 to 24 will be residents of Africa (United Nations, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, 2015) . This demographic shift will see more young African talents and

FAQs

What is the main purpose of the research?

To reflect on the African presence in textual content within Educational Considerations over 50 years of open-access publication, including article volume, Africa focus, themes, and methods.

Why is the research significant for academic discourse?

It clarifies the extent to which African scholars and Africa-focused topics are represented in educational literature, informing diversity and inclusion in scholarly communication.

What research areas does the study analyze regarding African scholarship?

It analyzes contributions by African scholars residing in Africa, articles centered on Africa, the themes and topics they address, and the methodologies and approaches they employ.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by dawugda