Characteristics of African Traditional Education (ATE)

African Traditional Education (ATE) This was a partner of education that existed in the traditional social set up before the coming of the Europeans.

It was local and aimed at production, and continuity of the society and it made one to fit in the society norms.

This type of education was acquired through storytelling, games, riddles, songs and dances.

It was meant to ensure that the young develop a sense of loyalty to their communities.

Characteristics/features of African Traditional Education (ATE)

This Education system was informal that is; it lacked classrooms, syllabi and timetable. Anywhere and any place was a classroom.
Another feature was that it did not have professionally trained teachers and lacked assessment or academic papers that are; Certificates/Diplomas because it lacked established classrooms of learning and learning took place from anyone and on whatever social and economic practice.

It was the role of the elders to impart knowledge and skills to the young ones. Taught young ones about domestic affairs that is; welcoming visitors, hygiene in a home, etc.
The grandparents played a vital role and were highly concerned with the history and cultural origins of the society. At puberty stage, the aunties and uncles were particularly responsible for preparing the youth in marriage as they taught family management skills that is sex-education.
The pre-colonial education was instructional that is; basically at family and age-set institutions for levels/types of knowledge and skills changed with nature of the institution that is; at the clanlevel, clan ancestral roots and taboos were emphasized while at family-level discipline and hardworking were emphasized.
The pre-colonial education was none illiterate that is; the reading and writing skills were not taught or emphasized, practical undertaking was instead emphasized but some scholars argued that this was because of lack of writing pads/materials therefore Africans designed their education which was to fit in such circumstances.

It was based on environment/surrounding that is; biosphere and hydrosphere etc. meaning that each society had its own unique environmental features which eventually determined the details as its education system. The education curriculum was meant to suit the environment. It was meant to give the member of the society skills and knowledge in order to adapt adopts the environment.
It was a practical type o education that is; pre-colonial education aimed at improving skills, strengthening talents and offering the relevant knowledge to enable self-reliance.
It was basically grouped into two (2) general skills and specialized skills the general knowledge were imparted to everyone member of society in general that is; hunting, farming, military skills, however specialized skills would be offered to enable the members of society with extra ordinary talents depending on age that is; black smith, medical and administrative skills.
Traditional Education never had strict laws and procedures to follow that is; had no standards of teaching or training of teachers of Traditional Education. Education was important and the young ones by parents/adults.
Any grownup adult was free to enforce discipline to any child any time because it was seen as a social responsibility.

The curriculum of Traditional Education included subjects like discipline, health, medicine, culture, etc.
The Traditional Education was for life that is; began from childhood, through adulthood up to death.
Conduct and discipline were vital for life that is; all children were to be of great conduct, great elders that is; in Buganda all girl-children were told while talking to elders.
The fire places acted as classrooms that is; parents could cover their children around fire place in the evening and tell them stores about their ancestors, gods, there was no built class.
Intelligent children were identified and prepared with leadership especially in the decentralized states.
Traditional Education was oral or verbal as it was carried out by word of mouth therefore it had no books, no library, no computers, etc.
It was universal that is never discriminated and had the same type of teachers, curriculum, learning environment, fire place was therefore uniform in pre-colonial societies.
No school fees were paid for this type of education and no wages paid to teachers as it was one’s responsibility in society to teach, train and guide young ones.
Evaluation or testing existed that is; in Iteso, a girl-child was given certain tasks to perform that is; Ajan to fetch water, etc and if the girl performed this well, shw was considered intelligent, educated and an adult.

In African Traditional Education (ATE) learning tok a form of observation, emulation copying and reputation.
Airmed at preservation of language, culture and heritage of the people.
In many case African Traditional Education (ATE) did not have specific learning calendar and learning depended on agency of the theme.
African Traditional Education (ATE) taught according the separate sexes that is; girls would be taught feminine duties while boys were taught masculine duties.