Embrace practical education to tackle crises

As of 2023, nine of the 10 countries with the lowest literacy rates were African. [iStockphoto]

A paradox for many who completed secondary and tertiary education in not-so-recent times is what to do with what took most of their time in school in the name of knowing something about everything.

Are African education systems relevant to solving local problems or are they just for papers? One wonders why, for instance, architects have to be "imported" for Africa's mega infrastructure, including roads, when local universities charge colossal amounts for one to study architecture.