Dear African Leader
I am not happy.
Today I woke up to reflect on the day that has been set aside to commemorate the African Child. This is a day I hold dearly to my heart yet its equally depressing as I am of the conviction that what Hector Peterson and others died for remains elusive for the African child.
Being a father has even raised more consciousness in me that there is a lot that we need to do as Africans in order to create an enabling environment for the African Child to excel. The African Child, moreso the black one continues to lag behind in terms of education.
Her rights continue to be trampled upon and her future remains bleak. As long as African governments continue to neglect the Africa child then we are doomed as continent. As long as African governments continue to invest more having bloated cabinets instead of channeling that money towards the holistic development of the African Child then we are retrogressing as a continent.
The education Curriculum in most African countries continues to suppress the African Child. While nations like China adapt to current trends, our curriculum is still stuck in the 70s. As the adage goes, ADAPT OR DIE, Africa is failing to adapt. We need a curriculum that is contemporary if we envisage having the African Child compete at the same level with the European Child.
Further, while African economies continue to dwindle, education is becoming more expensive and difficult for the poor man to afford. And they don’t have a getaway strategy at all besides pilfering!
Hector Peterson should be turning in his grave.
Our African governments need to be serious. They have to set their priorities and invest in the African Child I still believe in the universal free access to education at primary level for every child. If education is the future, then the African Child is the future.
We need to harness all that we have to ensure the African Child can compete at the same level as that Asian, European and American Child. This requires collective efforts from all stakeholders starting at household level where children’s rights ought to be protected by all means necessary.
The future of these children lie in our hands, our actions today have a bearing on their future. History will judge us harshly if we do not take deliberate efforts to create a perfect future for the African Child!
I opine.
By Leslie Phiri
Based in Uganda