Despite rapid population growth in African countries, education systems encounter challenges, including insufficient resources, a lack of qualified teachers, and the lasting effects of colonization on school policies and curricula. This study examined how young Africans perceive Global Citizenship Education (GCE), positing that it equips them with the essential knowledge and values necessary to develop effective solutions. The research involved interviews with 11 African expatriates studying or teaching at a Southern California college with a focus on GCE. The findings revealed that participants value GCE as a comprehensive approach that encourages contributions to society. They appreciate it for fostering open-mindedness, compassion, and critical thinking, which unite people beyond national boundaries. While GCE is rarely implemented in public schools across Africa, this study emphasizes its shared values with traditional African philosophies such as Ubuntu. This suggests the potential for integrating GCE into current curricula, which could enhance education systems and address colonial legacies.

Authors:
Sakiko Ochiai, Soka University of America, United States
Tomoko Takahashi, Soka University of America, United States

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Tomoko Takahashi is the Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Linguistics and Education at Soka University of America in Southern California, USA. Her research interests are in language acquisition, cross-cultural communication, and translation.

Connect on ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Tomoko-Takahashi-3

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