Education seen as the key in solving the problems of Africa

The Popes recent trip to Cameroon and Angola was one of the more awaited ones of his Pontificate. He took the opportunity to express his concern about the issues that matter most to the African people, among them corruption, hunger and war.

The Popes message wasnt just heard in Cameroon and Angola but throughout the continent. Florence Oloo was paying close attention to Benedicts message, one that she says her people awaited with high expectations.

Florence Oloo
Deputy Vice Chancellor, Strathmore University (Kenya)
Our whole attention was focused on him. Whats he going to tell us, how are we going to support him? I think it was much more of that unity with him. We experienced it very much in a very tangible way. Because we followed his trip to Cameroon, we followed his trip to Angola.
Oloo, deputy vice chancellor at Strathmore University in Nairobi, says the Popes message was being listened to very closely because it was one of hope for Africas future.

Forence Oloo
Deputy Vice Chancellor, Strathmore University (Kenya)
He spoke to us about looking at different ways of fighting corruption, because thats one of the big things in Africa that has somehow retarded development. And its something that is a challenge for us, that we have to see, how do we fight corruption? Not only in the government, in the private sector, in universities, in secondary schools. Thats a challenge for us.

Oloo says the issues highlighted by the Pope that most plague Africa like corruption and poverty, will ultimately have to be dealt with by African countries themselves. And that aid from foreign countries can only do so much.

Forence Oloo
Deputy Vice Chancellor, Strathmore University (Kenya)
Aid is important. But aid can only help us when it comes to help us with our own solutions. Aid does not help us when they give us that aid and they tell us how to use it, how to solve our problems. It doesnt help.

And then there are issues that cannot be solved with money alone, like AIDS and the situation of women in Africa.

Forence Oloo
Deputy Vice Chancellor, Strathmore University (Kenya)
Yes, theres some cultural values that do look down upon the woman, but were trying to bring out the positive, the way that the woman is at the center of the family, that the woman is the one that looks after the home, the women is the one that educates the child, the woman is the one that obtains the food that she puts on the table. Im not saying men do nothing, they do something, of course, but the woman is very powerful.

While aid and assistance help, she is certain that African nations will reaffirm the idea of hope by investing in a powerful tool: education.

Forence Oloo
Deputy Vice Chancellor, Strathmore University (Kenya)
I think the salvation of African countries of my country Kenya will come through education. Helping people to empower themselves. And once youre empowered you dont need someone to come tell you this is your problem, this is your solution. You have a problem, you get an innovative idea and you solve your problem.

Oloo says its through education that she hopes
Africa can promote values that create more awareness about issues like AIDS, so as to foster a sense of hope for the continent.

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[timszon]

Pope does not give a Fuck about Africa.

[mobius1aic]

In all honesty, what this kind of discussion needs, is a format of essays or lectures much like the professor in the video you linked. It's funny, all this talk makes me think of Pythagoras and his "schools" of thought.

[mobius1aic]

In the end to create such an education system we are allowed really improve ourselves, we will need heavy amounts of societal and economic change. The thing is, in order to have a free market capitalist system, can we have such an education system? Should such an education system geared towards individualized personal development be even reliant on government funding? Questions and possible answers to be considered I guess.

[mobius1aic]

I watched that video, and besides being very good, I've come to the same conclusions. Japan is the worst example I can think of when it comes to creating students purely to be thrown into a society where education is based on professional expectations. I know about the ADHD scourge pretty well, as I knew a few people in grade school who were on Ritalin or other drugs, and I certainly see it as an improper solution.

[rainzoro]

@mobius1aic yea i understand. But again, before we talk about how long school terms should be we should first talk about how to teach them, and I have already introduced a couple of fundamental problems we have. For example, we divide students in different grades depending on their age. I mean, is it really true the most important common thing students have is how old they are? Take a look at the clip I linked you it will broaden your perspective if ur willing to learn.

[mobius1aic]

@mobius1aic .......they have no ambition to look for it themselves, and don't even try to retain the information on the a title beyond well, the title. Yes, it's something they are being forced to read, which I sympathize with (I loathed force reading), but the sheer laziness on their part is disgusting. Their parents are typically just like them, giving me the clue to who those kids model their habits off of.

Ulgh, the whole problem just makes me angry.

[mobius1aic]

@mobius1aic They don't seem to care so much on average anymore about what their kid wants or about their personal development, so they gladly let their kid be babysat by the TV, computer, or videogames instead of taking them to museums, or teaching them other basic life skills like grocery shopping of all things. I work at a book store (impressive, I know -sarcasm-), and it pains me to see 20-somethings like myself and teenagers have absolutely no clue what to do when they need a book.......

[mobius1aic]

@mobius1aic Yes, math and sciences should allow students to become creative and critical thinkers, but the basic instruction is still very much key and the teachers need to be involved with it. It's Philosophy, History, Literature comprehension that I think need more open teaching with less homework.

A final thing I'd like to comment about US Education is the lack of parental involvement. Parents these days grew up being babysat by a TV, and now expect schools to babysit their children.

[mobius1aic]

@mobius1aic .....spread out over the week. For example a 7.5 hour school day for 5 days a week (37.5 hours) could be spread to 6 days of 6 or 6.5 hours to get a similar amount of instruction time that is less compressed. Students would have shorter days at school, more time for the necessary amount of home study as well as free time at home per day. The issue with instruction is, students need some standard work as far as math and science goes.

[mobius1aic]

@rainzoro What I meant is that I like how students are involved with the upkeep much like a home as opposed to when it comes to Asian schools. I'm not sure if Korean students do this or not. I'm well aware with the problems in Japan of students (and their parents) pretty much over stressing their children to succeed. I don't think it's a utopia, but there are some great things to taken into consideration. What I meant on a 6 day school week was the same amount of instruction time........