But
why our education can’t generate Innovators?
For
generations now the history demonstrates Africa with very little involvement to
the technological plateau. But recalling far back before 14th
century we find Africa with giant and talented human beings whom till today
scientists can’t explain the pyramids constructed in Egypt, the first calendar
was made in Africa, and even the Greek philosophy was adopted from the so
called Dark Continent.
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| A pyramid showcase the genius of Ancient Egypt |
Africans
healed a broken bone with just a wet mud and wood. And it doesn’t need a
medical doctorate degree to perform this extraordinary therapeutic activity. These
skills were just common secrets for all members of the society.
The
phases of Stone Ages to the Iron Age are well describing African renovations.
The blacksmith extracted iron from earth and created weapons and other tools
for domestic uses is an example of talented men from Africa.
No
one can deny that extraction of iron Particles from land to make iron steel
requires extraordinary skills, Healing of a broken bone with mud, the pyramids
construction, Blacksmithing and so so many other craftsmanship activities held
in Africa at that time were completely
qualified technology.
But
why today we see very little input of African scholars in the Technological space?
I think there is a problem with the system of inheritance of the technology to
our descendants. Long ago our ancestors
transformed different skills to their offspring through the non-formal African
education where by a member of any society usually a juvenile is practically
taught to carry out different activities like grazing, hunting, Fighting, arts,
medical preparation, Iron smithing etc, Therefore during their participation
these youngsters learn the skills and then adopt that skills to be part of
their life knowledge. And if you are from a tribe that practices iron smithing
and yet you don’t know how to create iron it is a shame. In that time there were neither Classrooms
nor written document to learn to acquire a certain skill, everything was taught
practically and if you want to get skilled you have to involve yourself into
the activity.
Then
well the historical accident brought us the Formal education, a western
oriented system of transforming skills from generation to another. As many
other things, we adopted this system without considering the African conditions
which is relatively different from that of Europe and never judge on its
consequences to the African fate.
This
system changed everything, instead of the practical Participation in acquiring
skills it is more hypothetical. To get education you have to go to the classes
read the documents written by the previous generation and later do the exams to
test yourself if you are qualified. The qualification Based on the grades shown
in the certificates and so a person with higher grades is considered bright and
genius, however the reality is it’s opposite.
Some people are good in memorizing so when it comes to the exams they
just flow down exactly what they consumed in encyclopedia and when it comes
to the application of the skills shey have got from the books it proves
failure.
The
impact to this is that we create a group of intellectuals whom are very good in
deriving the Archimedes principle or rather the Pythagoras theory just in papers
but they can’t apply it. That’s why now we have thousands of science alumnae
but we see very little impact to the society.
When
students start the rally of education they usually make assumption of what they
would become in future. Always dreaming of being a Pilot, an Engineer like
James Watts or somewhat being a great politician like Bill Clinton. But in our
countries the education system is blurring those dreams then at the end a student
find himself somewhere never expected.
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