Trends in Innovation: Basic Education in Africa.

Overview & Synopsis

A comparative study is reported of basic education in 10 African countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, Zambia, Benin, Mali, Upper Volta, and Angola. Basic education is defined as learning experiences to which all citizens are entitled or which are required to help them develop their potential to function effectively as individuals and members of society. Data sources include findings of seminars on basic education and teacher training for basic education and other relevant documents of the UNESCO/UNICEF Cooperation Programme in Africa. The report focuses on definitions of terms; trends in international, national, and regional philosophies of basic education; African educational efforts in the schools; teacher training; and basic education efforts for the unschooled adult and rural poor. The list of 23 findings suggests that experiments in basic education have not made a major impact on the national level. Two philosophical trends were identified: one, that basic education should occur principally through the formal educational system; two, that basic education should occur through the adult community outside school and college. Concerns which influence basic education are resistance to change, sub-regional political demands, economic growth, and poverty and privation. Finally, a good primary system was perceived as the most vital target for the general health and energy of a nation. (KC)