Education Or Recognition? Rethinking Africa’s Approach To Schooling

With almost two decades of experience spanning various levels of the education sector, I’ve seen significant changes throughout my journey. I’ve observed how, in the name of modernization, we risk losing sight of the true essence of African education. By “African education,” I mean an approach grounded in our local culture, identity, and values—one that integrates discipline, character, and sustainable ideas, while aiming to make us global champions by blending local intelligence with international relevance. This is what I call indigenous innovation: generating and teaching local ideas, content, and intelligence for global impact.
In the race for prestige and innovation, many schools in Africa prioritize flashy advancements and global recognition, often at the expense of the true essence of learning. Education is not about surface-level gloss; it’s about fostering growth, engagement, and lifelong learning that can be sustained over time. As we strive to meet international standards, one critical question often goes unasked: Are we losing sight of what truly matters—the students, teachers, and communities they serve?

Albert Einstein once wisely stated, “Education is not the learning of facts, but the training of the mind to think.” Schools that focus too heavily on external prestige risk building castles in the sand—impressive in appearance but unsustainable in substance. The late Nelson Mandela understood that education holds the power to transform the world. But as we chase global recognition, we must ask ourselves: Is this pursuit truly changing the world, or are we sacrificing long-term impact for short-term recognition?
Now is the time to reimagine how we invest in learning, returning to the foundational principles that foster growth, creativity, and authenticity. We must invest in programs that reflect the socio-cultural contexts of our students and prepare them for the future, ensuring that our education system is not just about meeting global standards but about creating meaningful, lasting local changes. Join me as I help reimagine Africa’s approach to schooling.