P.L.O. Lumumba Urges Africa to Reform Colonial-Era Education

• Apr 12, 2025

Kenyan scholar Professor P.L.O. Lumumba has called on African nations to urgently reform their education systems rooted in colonial history.

Speaking during a keynote address at the University of Education, Winneba, Lumumba criticized the continent’s current education models, describing them as outdated and irrelevant to Africa’s development needs. He argued that these systems focus too heavily on Western knowledge while ignoring African realities and innovations.

“Our institutions produce engineers who cannot build proper roads and economists who cannot improve local markets,” Lumumba stated. He condemned the education systems for praising European thinkers like Shakespeare while overlooking celebrated African writers such as Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o.

According to Lumumba, education in Africa should do more than award degrees—it should develop practical skills, critical thinking, and innovation. “Education must liberate, not enslave. We need minds that question, analyze, and dream beyond colonialism’s remnants,” he said.

He urged African universities to shift their focus from memorization and theory to solving real-world problems. Lumumba praised Rwanda as an example of a country that is making real progress in decolonizing its education system. He highlighted Rwanda’s efforts to connect learning with national development goals, positioning it as a model for the rest of the continent.

The speech sparked active discussions among attendees, many of whom agreed with Lumumba’s concerns. Students and lecturers pointed to the urgency of changing outdated curricula, especially as African countries face rising unemployment, poor infrastructure, and growing climate challenges—all of which require skilled and adaptable graduates.

Lumumba’s message goes beyond education reform; it speaks to a larger movement across the continent. Countries like Ghana are introducing coding into their schools, while Kenya is rolling out competency-based learning programs. These efforts show a growing shift towards creating education systems that serve African needs and ambitions.

By urging Africa to redesign its education systems based on its own values and challenges, Lumumba has joined a broader call for educational change that empowers the continent and shapes a more independent future.