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Since 1990, when the phrase "education for all" was first coined at the World Bank conference in Jomtien, Thailand, a battle has raged over its meaning and its impact on education in Africa. In this thought-provoking new volume, Dr. Brock-Utne argues that "education for all" really means "Western primary schooling for some, and none for others." Her incisive analysis demonstrates how this construct robs Africans of their indigenous knowledge and language, starves higher education in Africa, and thereby perpetuates Western dominion. In Dr. Brock-Utne's words, "A quadrangle building has been erected in a village of round huts."
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Whose Education for All? Studies in Education/Politics volume 6 garland reference library of social science volume 1445 Studies in Educational Politics Mark B. Ginsburg, Series Editor The Politics of Educators’ Work and Lives edited by Mark B. Ginsburg Politics, Race, and Schools Racial Integration, 1954–1994 by Joseph Watras Politics and Education in Israel Comparisons with the United States by Shlomo Swirski Staff, Parents, and Politics in Head Start A Case Study in Unequal Power, Knowledge, and Material Resources by Peggy A. Sissel Whose Education for All? The Recolonization of the African Mind by Birgit Brock-Utne Whose Education for All? The Recolonization of the African Mind Birgit Brock-Utne Falmer Press a m e m b e r o f t h e Tay l o r & F r a n c i s G r o u p N e w Yo r k & L o n d o n 2000 Published in 2000 by Falmer Press A Member of the Taylor & Francis Group 19 Union Square West New York, NY 10003 This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2002. Copyright © 2000 by Birgit Brock-Utne All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Brock-Utne, Birgit, 1938– Whose education for all? : recolonization of the African mind / Birgit Brock-Utne. p. cm. — (Garland reference library of social science ; v. 1445. Studies in education/politics ; v. 6) Includes bibliographical references (p. ). ISBN 0-8153-3478-8 (alk. paper) 1. Education—Economic aspects—Africa, Sub-Saharan. 2. Education—Aims and objectives—Africa. Sub-Saharan. 3. Educational assistance—Africa, Sub-Saharan. I. Title. II. Series: Garland reference library of social science : v. 1445. III. Series: Garland reference library of social science. Studies in education/politics ; vol. 6. LC67.A435.B76 1999 379.1′296—dc21 99-35515 CIP0 ISBN 0-203-90365-X Master e-book ISBN ISBN 0-203-90369-2 (Glassbook Format) Dedicated to my dear colleagues on the Faculty of Education, University of Dar es Salaam, hasa kwa Mwajabu, shoga yangu. A Beautiful Tyranny Misnamed Partnership The relationship To which we are wedded Is a beautiful tyranny Misnamed partnership. Our partnership Is a partnership of unequal partners Of unequal powers and unequal opportunites A partnership honeycombed With labyrinths of genteel deception, division and exclusion. In our partnership One party represents An imperial order of unprecendented sway and intrigue Into whose hegemonic bosom The other is conveniently entombed. In our partnership One party is the source, centre and symbol Of all knowledge, civilization and salvation The other a mere consumer of high culture and quips.1 We are stakeholders in a bizarre covenant That folds enslavement In intoxicating benevolence and grace Our partnership is afflicted with saintly inhumanity. In the cold mathematics of our partnership Our partnership is our destiny. Amen. HASSAN KEYNAN, 1995 1QUIPs are