African Philosophy of Education

• Published in: Nyansapo (The Wisdom Knot) pp. 13 - 54
• Main Author: Okrah, Kwadwo A.
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Routledge 2003
• Edition: 1
• Subjects: Akan Proverb; Pink Man; African Education; Stand Point; Akan Culture; European Type Schools; Wall Hangings; African Philosophy; Traditional Akan; Institutional Review Board; Akan Art; African Traditional Philosophy; Dormaa Ahenkro; Akan Philosophy; Spider Stories; Ghanaian Language; Young Men; Akan Society; Oral Literature; By The Fire Side
• ISBN: 9780415947336; 0415947332; 0415861098; 9780415861090
• DOI: 10.4324/9780203463895-2

At a glance, it is clear from the holdings of any library in the United States that ample research exists on Africa and Education and as well, many works of literature have been produced on the subject's philosophy. A critical examination would, however, reveal that the research and works deal with specific subjects. For example, with regard to education in Africa, committees, commissions and students have researched and appraised various educational reforms in Africa. In their findings, they apportion the blame of the failure of African educational reforms to different factors like instructional leadership, financial constraints, uncooperative attitude of parents, etc. But there is not yet sufficient interest in African philosophy in educational curriculum and reform. For example, no other continent is as rich in oral literature as Africa. But unfortunately, Africa has been colonized by an alien form of literature (Abimbola, 1990). This has claimed superiority and is being propagated at the expense and to the detriment of indigenous oral literature. Identification of the demise of African oral literature is imperative because if Africa is to know its own mind and channel its own course, it can only be done through the promotion of its indigenous oral literature and works in African languages (Abimbola, 1990). As discussed in chapter one, the pivotal point of the theoretical framework of this book is social construction of knowledge and functional education.