People and places
What is international education in Africa? Proserpina Dhlamini-Fisher explores challenges and opportunities Since going back to full time consultancy work, I have found more time to reflect on my thoughts on international education, and the fact that the world we are living in today is as it is because of our past history, making it possible to compare where we are in Africa and in education with the rest of the world. I give myself real time to read and research, looking for developments, challenges and outcomes. Part of this work is with schools, organizations and governments to add value to educational development in Africa. Africa as a continent is one of the fastest growing economies today, yet according to the World Literacy Map of 2020 we still have one of the highest rates of illiteracy in the world (acknowledging that there are always several variables that contribute to such figures). These figures do Winter
Summer |
| 2020
not mean that the continent is stagnant in its growth and development, but rather that based on whatever criteria UNESCO or other international bodies choose to use, the continent is still lagging behind. This brings me back to international education: is it really what is needed to lift Africans, or do we need to come together and create educational curricula that will empower our African children to be curious and proud learners? I am working with companies that are wanting this in some African countries, where schools are being created to meet the needs of the local population and are wanting to offer curricula that look both inward and outward. It makes me proud to know that all is definitely not gloom and doom, as is perceived by so many people about Africa.
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