The fate of quality education in West Africa is bleak. It is like a tarantula stuck above flowing water yet being breezed by the gusts of winds. But the scientific breakthrough of Europe and the golden words of Nelson Mandela that: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” gives us hope today. Little wonder we are convoked today to salvage education from the jaws of modern entertainment; the jaws of politicking in education by the government, and the jaws of the skyrocketing level of poverty amongst endless.  And that is also why we are gathered to probe into the challenge facing education of the 21st century in West Africa and to proffer solutions to it in several ways.

Firstly, there is alarming need for us as instructors to stop bringing up students who are crammers and subject-questions answerers. But we should bring up students to become problem solvers and critical thinkers. And this requires us to bridge up the subjects we teach with life realities. It also requires us to often make references to live and recent instances, and not obsolete and long forgotten or inapplicable examples.

Secondly, the essence of ensuring our education is globalised is germane because it will enable our students fit into any universal city. And this is achievable when we break away from the shackles of defining ourselves by our limitations but focusing on our possibilities, and building on our strength and potentials. Yes, this can be attainable when we update and expose ourselves first as instructors and then, make our classes and classrooms a global one.

Thirdly, it is high time we stopped thinking and reasoning for our students when we teach and access them. Hence, we must place our students at a spot where they can relearn by themselves whatever we have taught them. They must be able to relate what we have taught with their own experiences and present them to us in their own words from their own understanding. By so doing, we will be surprised at how their creativity will give birth to innovations.

Furthermore, we can mend the future situation of failed leadership in West Africa and its environ when we catch our students young and initiate them into the clan of academic and social responsibilities. Yes, we can build them to take charge of the class sometimes and assign them with roles within the school. More so, we can enhance team spirit in them alongside orientating them on the essence of good moral values.

Finally, it bores down to us to see it as a priority to enable a platform of communication and collaboration for our students. We must create rooms for clear expression of thoughts and opinions by doing more of interactive learning and less of talking alone for them to learn. In other words, we can assign our students with tasks that only collaboration can solve. And thus, our students’ default mind-set about tasks will be that, together everyone can achieve more. Over and beyond, if we could be honest and would adopt and implement these points with sincerity in our various institutions, we would successfully tackle the challenges our education now and in the future. Besides, we too3 will also become testifiers of the American author, Leo Buscaglia, who said, “Change is the end result of good learning.” Thank you.