African Entrepreneurship Record

Chapter 238: Chapter 227 International Students

May 23, 1870.

”Your Majesty, these are the top students from various regions in this year’s examinations, totaling over 500 people. After excluding those whose parents do not support studying abroad, only more than 200 remain. Among these, many immigrant families from German and Far East regions support studying abroad.”

”Hmm, if they don’t want to go, there’s no need to force them. It’s a matter of mutual consent. Studying abroad may not be a bad thing, but it’s not necessarily a good thing either. It’s just that we in East Africa are too backward and have no choice but to learn from the world’s powerful nations.”

”But Your Majesty, you can’t say that. Just implementing universal compulsory education in East Africa is an incredible achievement. Moreover, our East African kingdom has just been established, but we will definitely surpass other countries in the future.”

”Do not be arrogant! Stay humble and do things diligently. Backwardness is backwardness; there’s no excuse for it. The students going to Europe must be well cared for, allowing them to experience the best education in Germany and Austria, so that they can return and contribute to the construction of East Africa.”

”Yes, Your Majesty.”

”Furthermore, since the families of these children have chosen to trust us, we must do the job well. After all, who dares to place their child’s fate in others’ hands, so we must not betray this trust. The students’ meals must be nutritious, and study tools like textbooks and pens must be prepared. Their daily lives should also be centrally managed.”

”Yes, Your Majesty!”

On May 30, the East African Kingdom sent a total of 243 students to study in Prussia and Austria on behalf of the nation.

Speaking of education, the East African Kingdom is quite lacking. Beyond low average educational levels and high illiteracy rates, the so-called compulsory education in East Africa is like building a skyscraper on flat land, without even having laid the foundation.

Including the colonial period, the East African Kingdom has only existed for over three years. The earliest batch of elementary students has not yet graduated, and the first group of overseas students can only be selected from these adolescents.

...

”Marklov, the neighbor Karl has sent his son back to Europe for education. Don’t you think our decision might have been wrong, given our son’s better grades?” Marklov’s wife asked with slight concern.

”Studying! What nonsense! Back in Europe, I didn’t see many people going to school! Yet, everyone’s living just fine now, aren’t they?”

What Marklov referred to as Europe was actually Tsarist Russia. Marklov, originally named Marklovsky, came from a peasant slave family, so the level of education amongst Russian commoners is imaginable.

”Moreover, now that the government is enforcing this compulsory education, I think that’s enough. As long as one can write a bit and read government announcements, it’s good enough.”

”But...”

”There’s no ’but’ about it. Trust me, you can’t go wrong. We’re not nobility, and education can’t be eaten for food. If it weren’t for the government enforcing this compulsory education, I would definitely not let my son go to any school. Instead, he could be at home growing vegetables, raising chickens, and helping with farm work during the busy season, which would be better than going to school!” Marklov said.

Under the pressure from the industrious Chinese immigrants, Western gardens also fell short. As pleasant as they appear, they cannot be eaten, especially in these times of scarcity.

Hence, the impractical gardens were directly reduced in size to vegetable plots or were planted with fruit trees, yet the gardens were not completely defeated. There is always some value in pleasing aesthetics, so even the Chinese would learn from Europeans and plant a few flowers and plants in their courtyards as decorative accents.

The scene shifts to the neighbor’s house.

”Karl, it’s too dangerous to let little Karl go abroad alone at such a young age!”

”What’s there to be afraid of? The government has already promised to take good care of them. Staying in East Africa might not necessarily be better than going to Europe.”

”But little Karl is only eleven years old!”

”Hmph, eleven is old enough. I was ten when I started working in the fields with my parents. Now little Karl is a cultured person, and allowing him to receive a higher level of education in Europe is a good thing. Besides, our roots lie in Germany, and exposing little Karl to German culture is also beneficial. Although East Africa is not bad, in terms of culture, Germany is still the one to look to.”

During the same period, in a Chinese immigrant family in the same village.

”Hans! Frank is so young, is it okay to let him go to Europe alone?” Petra, the Paraguayan wife, asked worriedly.

”What’s there to be afraid of! There’s a saying in my hometown: every trade is lowly, only studying is high. We didn’t have the means before, but now there’s an opportunity, so naturally, we should let our son venture out. How much future could he have if he just follows us and farms?”

”I don’t see what’s wrong with farming! Venturing out has too much risk!”

”What do you know? Farming is exhausting! In the future, Frank only needs to move a pen, and he will earn more than both of us combined, maybe even hold an official position. Look at our village chief; it’s not because he has some education that he’s in that position.”

...

The first group of students bound for Europe departed from Dar es Salaam. Of these, 108 headed to Austria, while the rest went to Prussia and other German states. In the future, they’ll have the opportunity to study at universities in these countries, but for now, they will first attend secondary schools.

Although the students bound for Europe are young, most are intelligent. Being selected with outstanding grades from the free-range schools in East Africa and ultimately passing the examinations organized by the Central Government demonstrates that these individuals are not only smart but genuinely interested in learning.

”Remember not to lose your nameplates, and practice saying your home address every day, so you won’t forget the way home.”

”When you reach Europe and enter the schools, always remember you are there to study. Don’t care how classmates perceive you. If someone asks, just tell them you are students from the East African Kingdom and that you, too, are German.”

”Should you encounter any difficulties, you can always contact your coordinator and teachers. The government provides for your living needs free of charge; your role is to focus on studying, all...”

On the ship, staff repeatedly emphasized the precautions to these children.

Simultaneously, to leave something for these children’s parents to hold on to, the East African Kingdom opened telegraph lines from Europe to East Africa, allowing a telegram to be sent home every three months.

East Africa’s two telegraph trunk lines can reach the inland, and eventually, the postal service will deliver it to the homes of the overseas students.

The cost of just this one thing is considerable, showing the East African government’s emphasis.

The biggest issues abroad for students are likely not studying but discrimination and acclimatization problems. However, there aren’t many good solutions. The first batch of overseas students is destined to be the hardest.

Choosing Germany for the first batch of students is also so they can integrate into the local society and cultural atmosphere. German is the passkey, and Europe generally regards East Africa as a German nation. This is an unchangeable fact. In other areas of Europe, claiming a German identity may not work, but it is sufficient in the German regions.