ICH4801
Assignment 1
, Question 1
1.1.1 Masolo describes African socialism as a synthesis of Marxist socio-economic
principles and the politics of negritude. Essentially, African socialism derives its
theoretical foundation from genuine African cultural elements. It aims to
reinterpret the Marxist vision of a classless society within the context of
traditional African communities, known for their cohesive nature. A key
component of African socialism is the concept of African communalism, which
emphasizes the collective values inherent in historical African societies, as
opposed to Western individualism. It is believed that in ancient African cultures,
everyone functioned as part of a larger familial unit. Nkrumah asserted that this
framework was intended to integrate European, Islamic, and Western influences
into African civilization, molding them to fit the African identity. The humanistic
values that underpin traditional African society shape what is known as the
African personality.
1.1.2 Comparative education harnesses data and methodologies from diverse nations
to evaluate and enhance the educational systems within a country. It is an
academic discipline that examines and contrasts contemporary educational
principles and practices across multiple countries, aiming to broaden
understanding beyond one's own national context, as noted by Good (1962, cited
in Lawal, 2004). According to Holzhuter (2015), comparative education entails
studying education from three perspectives: a. analyzing the educational system
itself; b. examining it within its broader context; and c. adopting a comparative
approach. It encompasses various dimensions, including influences from social,
economic, cultural, and religious domains. Additionally, it highlights the
importance of studying educational systems within their sociological contexts
rather than in isolation. Some educational institutions may be especially
interested in how education promotes social mobility.
1.1.3 A child's native language is typically the language they use in their household or
with others. A person's native language is the language they have primarily
studied, naturally identify with, and commonly speak. UNESCO (2003:13) defines
a person's native language as the language they first acquired, feel connected to,
Assignment 1
, Question 1
1.1.1 Masolo describes African socialism as a synthesis of Marxist socio-economic
principles and the politics of negritude. Essentially, African socialism derives its
theoretical foundation from genuine African cultural elements. It aims to
reinterpret the Marxist vision of a classless society within the context of
traditional African communities, known for their cohesive nature. A key
component of African socialism is the concept of African communalism, which
emphasizes the collective values inherent in historical African societies, as
opposed to Western individualism. It is believed that in ancient African cultures,
everyone functioned as part of a larger familial unit. Nkrumah asserted that this
framework was intended to integrate European, Islamic, and Western influences
into African civilization, molding them to fit the African identity. The humanistic
values that underpin traditional African society shape what is known as the
African personality.
1.1.2 Comparative education harnesses data and methodologies from diverse nations
to evaluate and enhance the educational systems within a country. It is an
academic discipline that examines and contrasts contemporary educational
principles and practices across multiple countries, aiming to broaden
understanding beyond one's own national context, as noted by Good (1962, cited
in Lawal, 2004). According to Holzhuter (2015), comparative education entails
studying education from three perspectives: a. analyzing the educational system
itself; b. examining it within its broader context; and c. adopting a comparative
approach. It encompasses various dimensions, including influences from social,
economic, cultural, and religious domains. Additionally, it highlights the
importance of studying educational systems within their sociological contexts
rather than in isolation. Some educational institutions may be especially
interested in how education promotes social mobility.
1.1.3 A child's native language is typically the language they use in their household or
with others. A person's native language is the language they have primarily
studied, naturally identify with, and commonly speak. UNESCO (2003:13) defines
a person's native language as the language they first acquired, feel connected to,
