International Children’s Day: 'African Education Must Be Decolonized,' Says Professor
International Children’s Day: 'African Education Must Be Decolonized,' Says Professor
African education remains influenced by colonial systems that prioritize Western models over local needs and indigenous knowledge, leaving communities ill-equipped to solve their own problems using their own skills, Alemayehu Teklemariam, Professor, Director of the Department of Special Needs and Inclusive Education at Addis Ababa University, told Sputnik Africa.
He emphasized that children should learn in their native language, as language is key to understanding and problem-solving. True knowledge, he argued, comes from indigenous thinking and community-based research, which can lead to local innovation and technology.
"Ethiopia has never been colonized by military, by armed force. But we are colonized culturally. So we have to decolonize our mindset," Teklemariam said.
The professor also stressed the need to revive African traditions and oral storytelling, once passed down by elders, which are being replaced by TikTok, YouTube, and foreign media.
Many African intellectuals, especially in science and technology, are working abroad, and efforts must be made to attract them back to contribute to their home countries, he stated.
Another challenge, the academician added, is the dependency fostered by foreign NGOs, which discourages local initiative and pushes youth toward risky migration instead of homegrown solutions.
AI-generated image
Subscribe to @sputnik_africa
