January to December 2010 · Volume 6 African Education in Focus A publication of the Center for African Education and the African Studies Working Group at Teachers College, Columbia University Journeys: 2010 in review DIRECTOR'S NOTE eachers College has re- events have pointed to the challenges The Center encourages faculty newed its interests in glob- confronting African peoples as they members and students to undertake al affairs and brought into seek to overcome basic economic, research on African immigrants and Tplay its full range of expertise in educational and health problems. to lay on new Africa related courses. the fields of education, health and This issue of African Education Professor Michelle Knight-Diop psychology. These interests lie not in Focus presents the range of events (together with two students, Ms. solely with the domestic; nor solely sponsored by the Center. It also Ramatu Bangura and Mr. Vaughn with the international. They involve attempts to cover the range of ac- Watson) is engaged in a fascinat- understanding education in both tivities of faculty members and stu- ing piece of research on civic and domains. The Center for African dents as they reach out to New York political life of African immigrant Education has been engaged in this metropolitan educators, undertake youth. While Professor JoAnne journey of exploration directed to- ward promoting interest in Africa "The Center provides a platform for the discussion of and African education in the Unit- African affairs and African education and disseminates ed States and providing assistance to information on Africa within the field of education." African countries. Together with the African Studies Working Group, a student organization, the Center has laid on events that have brought research on African immigrants and Kleifgen has turned her expertise in to Teachers College and Columbia establish professional connections linguistics to examine issues in Af- University an array of educators, with African universities. The Cen- rican and the Diaspora languages, practitioners and scholars who have ter provides a platform for the dis- Dr. Dominic Mentor from South spoken about African affairs. These cussion of African affairs and African Africa has developed an innova- education and disseminates infor- tive course on the use of the mobile mation on Africa within the field of phone. The Center has also encour- education. With the initial support aged faculty and students to go to of a Provost Grant, the Center has and report on their visits and in- embarked on a major project, the ternships in African countries. In Teaching Africa series. The intention this spirit Professor Judith Burton is to produce four basic texts on has provided us with a fascinating West, East, South and North Africa account of her journey in Ethiopia. for educators and the general pub- Several students have written about lic. The first volume on West Africa their internships in different Afri- is well on its way to completion. can settings. From these accounts «« Dr. George C. Bond, Director page 2 · African Education In Focus · 2010 in review DIRECTOR'S NOTE it is apparent that changes are tak- initiating of a program on Education sciences. The Center will con- ing place in African countries. in Emergencies at the University tinue to promote the dissemina- The intrusion of the “cold war” of Nairobi in Kenya. These activi- tion of information about Africa in Africa obscured many of the ba- ties are undertaken in collaboration and African education primarily sic economic and social conditions with African academics and involve within the United States but also impeding the formation of an infra- the training of both local African in other regions of the world. structure for achieving a number of and Teachers College students. The n another note, the public goals. With the ending of the Center has also encouraged research. Center extends a warm “cold war”, and the growing oppor- Professor Helen Verdeli’s (together welcome to our new tunities for Africans to express their with her two students, Mr. Eric Coordinator,O Mr. Evan Hendon, demands, African leaders are being Lewendowski and Ms. Annie Feigh- a Master's student in International forced to recognize the will of the ery) collaboration with the Center Educational Development with a people and provide for their social in pursuing her research on Group concentration in Policy Studies. Mr. welfare. The problems are complex Interpersonal Psychotherapy treat- Hendon's experience and insights and multifaceted. During the ini- ment programs in Southern Ugan- will be a great asset to the Cen- tial phases of an anticipated “Afri- da, a region where Professor Joan ter. The Center would also like to can Renaissance”, Teachers College Vincent and I undertook research thank its two former coordinators, is in the position to provide basic on HIV/AIDS during the initial Ms Stephanie Bengtsson and Ms. assistance. Its faculty members and phases of the epidemic, is one ex- Melissa Cushman, for their dedica- students have the knowledge, expe- ample. A research project by Ms. tion to the Center and African-re- rience and expertise to assist African Janny Chang, a doctoral student, on lated issues. We wish them the best leaders in meeting the expectations the relation of Chinese and Zambian of luck in their future endeavors. and aspirations of their peoples. corporation managers in Chinese Steps are being taken to forge con- firms operating in Zambia provides nections between Teachers College another example. Thus, the Center and African institutions to provide encourages a wide range of research collaboration and assistance. Exam- topics stemming from different dis- ples are to be found in the joint ac- ciplinary perspective and interests. tivities of Professors Lesley Bartlett As this Issue illustrates, the Cen- and Frances Vavrus (University ter emphasizes the study of Africa of Minnesota) in holding teacher through academic training, research, training workshops at Mwenge practice and experience. It demon- University of Education in Tanza- strates Teachers College’s ability to "Friends Alike," an art piece made from nia; Dr. Catherine Crowley’s devel- help African countries achieve their recycled plastic and wire, by Collin Sekajugo. This piece, along with others oping programs on speech pathol- goals by providing them with as- were on display at an event that was sponsored by the Center, Columbia ogy at Korle Bu Hospital in Accra, sistance in the fields of education, University's Committee on Global Thought, Ghana; and Dr. Mary Mendenhall’s health, psychology and the social and the Institute for African Studies. See page 22 for more details. page 3 · African Education In Focus · 2010 in review Contents A look at Dr. Crowley and TC's Speech Pathology Program in Ghana » pg. 8 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 2-3ǀ Director’s Note 4ǀ Contents 5 African Studies Working Group ǀ 18-22 ǀ Past Events ONLINE : 6 CAE Offerings 23 Promised Land Review ǀ ǀ Center for African Education: - Teaching Africa Series http://www.tc.columbia.edu/ - Certificate in African 24 ǀ Fela! Review centers/cae/ Education 25 ǀ Living in South Africa during African Studies Working Group: 7-11 Faculty Highlights ǀ the World Cup www.tc.columbia.edu/stu- dents/aswg/ 12-13 ǀ Faculty Reflection 26 ǀ CAE Staff Profiles - Dr. Burton in Ethiopa 27 ǀ Affiliates 14-17 ǀ Student Highlights 28 ǀ Center Information Fela! A review of a show on-Broadway » pg. 24 page 4 · African Education In Focus · 2010 in review A.S.W.G. update ASWG Greetings Hello to all those interested in educa- scheduled for this school year such as will be ready soon! Thank you for tion, international development, the ASWG Pot Luck Discussion on your interest and we look forward to Africa and the African Diaspora! We Student Work in Africa and the Dias- meeting you! are a group of dedicated individu- pora and a student symposium als interested in education and its co-hosted with fellow student orga- relevant issues in Africa and the Di- nizations here at Teachers College. aspora. Previously, we have hosted a Our listserv is a great way to stay variety of events such in touch and learn about upcom- as a student symposium on African ing events. To join our listserv, or education, panel discussions, and for more information about any of social events. As always, we have a se- our activities, please contact us at ries of exciting events [email protected]. Our website is currently under construction, but ASWG's 2010 Symposium Held on March 26, 2010 at Teachers College, the ASWG Symposium, themed, "Rethinking Aid: Solutions, Strategies, and Innovations for Education in Africa and the Diaspora," attracted a gathering of students and faculty members, who came to hear guest speakers from different back- grounds. Found below is a flyer listing all the noted speakers and panelists who participated in the annual event. page 5 · African Education In Focus · 2010 in review CAE OFFERINGS Teaching Africa Series Update by MELISSA CUSHMAN Work is continuing on the Cen- on West, East, South, and North Af- rently being designed by two TC ter’s exciting Teaching Africa series, rica. The first volume, which is cur- students. The curriculum will aim a project made possible by generous rently under development, is entitled to help teachers incorporate the ref- grants from TC’s Provost Office, the Teaching West Africa: A Reference Text erence text into their classrooms. Center for International Business for Public School Educators. This vol- Education