AN ASSESSMENT OF JULIUS NYERERE’S EDUCATION FOR SELF-RELIANCE

Education for self-reliance was the most important educational principle which Julius Nyerere considered as a foundation for Africa’s development. For him, it is important that the educational system in Africa should be structured in such a way that it will foster the goals of togetherness and cooperative endeavours for the liberation of the African continent. Education for self-reliance is about gaining self-independence, self-determination and self-valued. He however, made a case that such an educational system would be geared towards the freedom of the African man from the constraints imposed by colonial dependency. To this end, the purpose of this paper therefore, is to assess Nyerere concept of education for African self-reliance. In doing this, a conceptual clarifications and rigorous analytical method would be applied. Finding revealed that our educational system had been westernised which promotes the culture and custom of the western countries. It is also revealed that the western style of education had not meant our societal demands in Africa. This study therefore recommended that an indigenous educational system is necessary for Africa and African to fully liberate itself from western control and dependency. It is also recommended that an Afrocentric educational system is needed at this point in order to promotes our culture and customs for self- fulfillment and self-realization. Key words: Development, Education, Julius Nyerere, Self-reliance,