Empowering African Education: Professor Kwame Akyeampong Calls for African Ownership of Education Reforming Education
Professor Kwame Akyeampong, a renowned expert in International Education and Development at the Open University, UK, has urged African scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to take greater ownership of the narrative and substance of education reforms on the continent. He made this call during the International Conference on Education, Development and Innovation (INCEDI) 2025, held at the Centrelink Conference, Methodist University Ghana, Dansoman Campus, Accra.
The Need for Authentic African Perspectives
Professor Akyeampong emphasized the importance of creating platforms that amplify authentic African perspectives on educational challenges and opportunities. He lamented that for too long, the story of education research and innovation in Africa has been told by outsiders, leading to narratives that paint the continent in deficit. “It always saddens me when I attend international conferences and see many issues about Africa being presented by researchers who have never had the real experience of an African,” he said. Conferences like INCEDI provide a critical space for fostering homegrown insights into Africa’s educational transformation.
Challenges in Implementing Education Reforms
Drawing on his extensive international experience, including a recent six-month fellowship in Germany, Professor Akyeampong contrasted the philosophical and systemic commitment to education he observed in Europe with the fragmented implementation of reforms in Africa. He acknowledged that African nations have undertaken numerous reforms since the 1990s, but many have failed to yield the promised transformation due to poor implementation or misalignment with local contexts.
Rethinking Education in Africa
Professor Akyeampong described a “credential-focused mindset” prevalent in many African societies, where education is viewed primarily as a pathway to acquiring qualifications rather than as a transformative force that drives innovation and problem-solving. He challenged participants to move beyond discussions focused solely on the shortcomings of African education systems and instead explore solutions rooted in Africa’s realities.
Empowering African Voices
“Let us make our deliberations about what works and how to make it better. We must ensure that African voices shape the reforms that will define our future,” Professor Akyeampong emphasized. By taking ownership of education reform narratives, Africans can create a more equitable and inclusive education system that equips learners to become agents of change, not just holders of credentials.
