Discipline, Ideology, and the Child: Education and Social Conditioning in Amu Djoleto’s The Strange Man

Abstract

This paper explores the impact of education on children through the lens of Amu Djoleto’s novel, The Strange Man. While education is recognised as a fundamental right for children, it is often overlooked by parents. This constitutes a great problem which needs to be solved. Growing up in the village of Botoi with his parents, his brother and his sister, Mensa frequently found himself in problematic situations. Consequently, he was sent to Accra to reside with his mentor, Mr. Lomo, with the intention of becoming a refined Christian. However, this plan was thwarted when Mr. Lomo recognised Mensa’s candour and unpolished manner, and traits associated with someone from a rural background. Mensa retained this straightforwardness throughout his life, gaining both admirers and detractors, although all acknowledged his honesty. This highlights the need for this study which aims to identify the issues surrounding education for children and explore its various dimensions. To conduct this research effectively, the methodological approach that I have employed is a qualitative approach that includes both documentary research and Internet sources, such as e-books and academic articles, alongside traditional library sources. The study is informed by a Marxist critical approach, focusing on class struggle, as it examines the relationship between children and adults in educational contexts. One of the key findings of the research is that education is often overlooked by parents although it is one of the children’s rights. Another key finding is that some steps have to be taken in order to stop this phenomenon. The findings indicate that the portrayal of education in the novel has significant repercussions for children. The study concludes that formal education is crucial and must be taken seriously by parents, not only in Africa but globally. The scholarly significance of this study is that other scholars may use its results to carry out similar research works.