The BookBank system at Makerere University, Uganda: an alternative means of providing books for students

摘要

Student enrolment at universities in Africa is increasing, while institutional capacity to ensure quality is being eroded. Steadily declining state funding is affecting library and textbook provision. Alternative schemes are being implemented. This is a case study of the BookBank Scheme at Makerere University. Money that used to go to students in the form of a book allowance is diverted to build up collections of multiple copies of prescribed textbooks, which the students then borrow. The success of the arrangement has led the Ugandan government to extend the BookBank concept to all levels of education.