Something needs to be done in order to stop this deteriorating factor of brain drain in the country. This article briefly presents a discussion on the ways through which brain drain can be reduced.
Mutual Agreement
A mutual agreement has to be reached by the developed and the developing nations on how to reduce the pull and push factors that make professionals to flee Africa and Asia to Europe and America. Secondly, powerful nationals like the US should stop using special visas and packages to attract talented professionals from their native countries. Thirdly, African nations should try and understand the contributions of professionals by improving their terms of service.
Updating school curriculums
School Curriculums should be updated to reflect the African needs for the 21st century. African schools produce more graduates in the arts and humanities than in science and engineering. Since science and technology can increase the standards of living, it makes more sense to produce more scientists and engineers (Emeagwali, 1999). As such, school curriculum should be re-designed to meet the industrial needs.
Good governance
Good governance at the national and international level, especially maintenance of reasonable security for peoples’ lives and property is essential for economic progress. Thus, withholding political and economical emigrants, who blame their government’s failure for political unrest and stagnant economic growth, is possible if good governance is maintained.
Quality Education
Education plays a powerful role especially in the growing problems of international migration. Therefore, offering quality education in a country and expanding a better educational infrastructure can definitely prevent emigrants who are seeking a higher education abroad.
Withholding certificates
Seeking alternative measures for return of warranty from the beneficiaries, such as the withholding of academic degrees until the graduates return and are willing to serve the people could serve as another considerable alternative (Emeagwali, 1999).
Taxing emigrants
Taxing emigrants who are indigenously trained in home countries could also serve as a measure. This is however a sensitive issue and may sound absurd, and may potentially infringe on the basic human right and freedom to choose the nature and location of individuals where to live and where to work. Thus, it must be agreed upon the international community and international laws.
Conclusion
The primary cause of brain drain is the difference among countries in economic and professional opportunities, hence the imperative to move from one area to another to improve their social and economic status. Brain drain has a direct relationship to levels of education attained, and access to training and employment opportunities abroad. Economic globalization, lack of development and political instability, industrialized nations policies, and linguistics and historical ties are major factors that account for Third World movement of intellectual, skilled laborers to developed countries in general. Existence of brain drain in a country has negative impacts on the economy of a country thus much needs to be done so as to save a country’s economy from deteriorating due to lack of adequate skilled labor available in the market.
References
Emeagwali, P. (1999) Brain Drain from the African Continent, Retrieved 7th September, 2011 from http://emeagwali.com/interviews/brain-drain/brain drain-of-african-scientists-the-world-today-bbc-british-broadcasting-corporation.html.