Abstract
This article explores the characteristics, goals, modes of transmission, teaching and learning strategies of indigenous African education, in which the pursuit of excellence and quality has always been an important aim. Informal and vocational training constitute the core of indigenous education in Africa. Under this traditional system, each person in the community is practically trained and prepared for his/her role in society. It is a holistic system, in which story telling, proverbs and myths also play an important role. The author suggests the adoption of some of the elements of this system into modern-day educational practice as a strategy for improving quality.
Résumé
MODES AFRICAINS TRADITIONNELS D’ÉDUCATION: LEUR PERTINENCE DANS LE MONDE MODERNE – Cette contribution explore les caractÉristiques, les objectifs, les modes de transmission, l’enseignement et les stratÉgies d’apprentissage de l’Éducation africaine indigène, au sein desquelles la poursuite de l’excellence et de la qualitÉ a toujours ÉtÉ un but important. Dans ce système traditionnel, chaque personne dans la communautÉ est pratiquement formÉe et prÉparÉe à son rôle dans la sociÉtÉ. Il s’agit d’un système holistique dans lequel les contes, les proverbes et les mythes jouent Également un rôle important. L’article suggère l’adoption de certains de leurs ÉlÉments dans la pratique Éducative moderne.
Zusammenfassung
TRADITIONELLE AFRIKANISCHE BILDUNGSFORMEN UND IHRE RELEVANZ FÜR DIE MODERNE WELT – Dieser Beitrag erforscht die Besonderheiten, Ziele und Übermittlungswege sowie die Lehr- und Lernstrategien der indigenen afrikanischen Erziehung und Bildung, in der das Streben nach Qualität und nach hervorragenden Leistungen seit jeher eine wichtige Rolle spielt. In diesem traditionellen System wird jede Person der Gemeinschaft speziell fÜr seine/ihre Rolle in der Gesellschaft ausgebildet. Es ist ein holistisches System, in dem Sprichwörter, Mythen und erzählte Geschichten eine große Rolle spielen. Der Artikel setzt sich fÜr die Übernahme einiger ihrer Elemente in die heutige Bildungspraxis ein.
Resumen
MODOS DE EDUCACIÓN TRADICIONAL AFRICANA: SU RELEVANCIA EN EL MUNDO MODERNO – Esta contribuciÓn explora las características, los objetivos, los modos de transmisiÓn y las estrategias de enseñanza y aprendizaje de la educaciÓn autÓctona africana, que siempre ha perseguido la excelencia y la calidad como uno de sus objetivos importantes. Bajo este sistema tradicional, toda persona de la comunidad ha recibido una enseñanza práctica y una preparaciÓn para desempeñar su papel en la sociedad. Es un sistema holístico en el que también juegan un papel importante las narraciones, los proverbios y los mitos. Este trabajo sugiere la adopciÓn de algunos de sus elementos en las prácticas de enseñanza de nuestros tiempos modernos.
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Acknowledgement
I wish to thank Professor Thomas Fasokun for his invaluable assistance, and the anonymous reviewers of the early draft of this article, for their contribution to this final version.
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Omolewa, M. Traditional African modes of education: their relevance in the modern world. Int Rev Educ 53, 593–612 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-007-9060-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11159-007-9060-1