The Focus of Educational Development in Africa Since the Addis-Ababa Conference of 1961 and Tanananrive of 1962

Abstract

The focus of educational development in Africa since the Addisa-Ababa Conference of 1961. In the wake of political independence of many African countries, delegates of thirty-nine (39) African states and five European colonial powers (Belgium, France, Portugul, Spain and United Kingdom) decided to meet in Ethiopia to discuss, the way forward in terms of education in Africa. This brought about the turning point in the development of education in the continent. This meeting gave an important meaning and a formal expression to the educational consciousness that had been after the Second World War. This was the first time that the problem of education was tabled and discussed essentially by Africans at the continental level. This conference became important because of the targets that were set, and for so many years it became the yardsticks for measuring the achievement (in quantitative terms) of educational development in Africa countries both the long and the short terms of Ashby Commission targets – upto 1970. This paper therefore made recommendations, looked at the dysfunctionality of some areas and suggested solutions.

Keywords: Educational Development, Addis Ababa, Tanananrive, Ashby Commission.

DOI: 10.7176/JEP/10-3-16