,ICH4801 Assignment 1 (COMPLETE ANSWERS)
Semester 1 2025 - DUE 2025
Question 1: Comparative and international education
1.1 Define the following concepts in your own words. Provide the
source of your definition in each instance.
1.1.1 African socialism (5)
1.1 Definitions of Key Concepts
1.1.1 African Socialism (5 Marks)
African socialism refers to a socio-economic and political
ideology that seeks to blend traditional African communal
values with modern socialist principles. It emphasizes collective
ownership, economic self-reliance, and social justice while
maintaining African cultural identity. Unlike Marxist socialism,
African socialism does not advocate for class struggle but rather
promotes unity, egalitarianism, and communal support. It was
notably championed by leaders such as Julius Nyerere of
Tanzania and Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, who believed that
pre-colonial African societies already practiced forms of
communal living and resource-sharing, which should guide
modern economic and political policies.
Source: Nyerere, J.K. (1968). Ujamaa: Essays on Socialism.
Oxford University Press.
, 1.1.2 Comparative education (5)
1.1.2 Comparative Education (5 Marks)
Comparative education is a field of study that examines
educational systems, policies, and practices across different
countries and cultures to identify similarities, differences, and
best practices. It involves analyzing historical, sociopolitical, and
economic factors influencing education and aims to improve
educational policies by learning from global experiences.
Comparative education employs interdisciplinary methods from
sociology, economics, history, and anthropology to understand
how education can be used as a tool for social development
and transformation.
Source: Bray, M., Adamson, B., & Mason, M. (2014).
Comparative Education Research: Approaches and Methods.
Springer.
1.1.3 Home language (5)
1.1.3 Home Language (5 Marks)
Home language refers to the language that a person learns first
and uses primarily for communication within their home and
community. It is also known as the mother tongue or first
language and plays a crucial role in cognitive and linguistic
development. Research suggests that using a learner’s home
language as the medium of instruction in early education
enhances comprehension, critical thinking, and academic
Semester 1 2025 - DUE 2025
Question 1: Comparative and international education
1.1 Define the following concepts in your own words. Provide the
source of your definition in each instance.
1.1.1 African socialism (5)
1.1 Definitions of Key Concepts
1.1.1 African Socialism (5 Marks)
African socialism refers to a socio-economic and political
ideology that seeks to blend traditional African communal
values with modern socialist principles. It emphasizes collective
ownership, economic self-reliance, and social justice while
maintaining African cultural identity. Unlike Marxist socialism,
African socialism does not advocate for class struggle but rather
promotes unity, egalitarianism, and communal support. It was
notably championed by leaders such as Julius Nyerere of
Tanzania and Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, who believed that
pre-colonial African societies already practiced forms of
communal living and resource-sharing, which should guide
modern economic and political policies.
Source: Nyerere, J.K. (1968). Ujamaa: Essays on Socialism.
Oxford University Press.
, 1.1.2 Comparative education (5)
1.1.2 Comparative Education (5 Marks)
Comparative education is a field of study that examines
educational systems, policies, and practices across different
countries and cultures to identify similarities, differences, and
best practices. It involves analyzing historical, sociopolitical, and
economic factors influencing education and aims to improve
educational policies by learning from global experiences.
Comparative education employs interdisciplinary methods from
sociology, economics, history, and anthropology to understand
how education can be used as a tool for social development
and transformation.
Source: Bray, M., Adamson, B., & Mason, M. (2014).
Comparative Education Research: Approaches and Methods.
Springer.
1.1.3 Home language (5)
1.1.3 Home Language (5 Marks)
Home language refers to the language that a person learns first
and uses primarily for communication within their home and
community. It is also known as the mother tongue or first
language and plays a crucial role in cognitive and linguistic
development. Research suggests that using a learner’s home
language as the medium of instruction in early education
enhances comprehension, critical thinking, and academic
