Colonial curricula no more: Lumumba urges education overhaul in Africa

In a strong speech at the University of Education, Winneba, Professor P. L. O. Lumumba called for change in African education. He argued that the current system is still influenced by colonial legacies. These legacies do not meet Africa’s needs today.

Lumumba described an Africa where education reflects its colonial past. Graduates are often unprepared to tackle real problems on the continent. He criticized academic programs that favor Western knowledge over African-centered approaches.

“Our institutions hold foreign ideas,” he stated. “We have professors who know Shakespeare but not Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o. We produce engineers who can’t build proper roads and economists who can’t improve markets.”

He urged African universities to foster critical thinking and innovation. Education should focus on local realities, not just degrees.

“Education must liberate,” he said, “not enslave us.” He emphasized the need to train individuals who can question and analyze beyond colonial limits.

Despite his passionate tone, Lumumba's message was hopeful. He encouraged young people and educators to reclaim African education and redefine its goals.

He cited Rwanda as an example of a country working to decolonize its curriculum. Lumumba urged leaders to align education with Africa’s development needs.

In conclusion, he challenged his audience: “The future of Africa lies in creating systems rooted in our own soil.”