Get yourself an International Education

All of Africa founding fathers had an international education. All transformative leaders the world over have a global orientation. Is an international education important for the development of leaders? My answer to that question is a definite yes! But then, you ask, is it possible to give everyone an international education? Is it possible to expose everyone to global thinking? Again, my answer is a defining - Yes!

Many parents fear to take their children to international schools for fear of the high fees charged while others do not want to expose their children to global thinking lest they are unable to meet the expectations generated by an international curriculum. Yet the power of inspiration and aspiration is what will trigger the development of the child to strive to fulfill these expectations. Put it this way- If you teach the child about the village in which he or she lives, they will think no further than the limits of the way of life they are used to. But tell them stories of lands far away with different kinds of environment and you will trigger a hunger and thirst for search, exploration and achievement. An international education opens to them a door of opportunity to sample the possibility of another life. Indeed, they will be dissatisfied with the present. But then that is not always a bad thing.

Well if you cannot take your child abroad, how will they access and international education? In most countries there are both international and local curricula. Perhaps schools may want to provide international curriculum as an option and bring it to the local school. My guess is that locals will start to think differently. This will mark them out as leaders able to see things from a new perspective. This then is the value of international curricula, it gives students around a globe an international platform and benchmark of engagement, understanding and aspiration. International curricula help develop leaders among us – People who think differently. People who don’t just deal with reality, but look to achieve possibility. Not people who constantly critical of local conditions, but people willing to construct the future!