Why is dyslexia such a challenge for African children?

DISCLAIMER: This episode first aired on 20 September 2022

Across Africa, if you ask people how they plan to improve the lives of their children, the answer is often ‘through education’.

But what if the school system isn’t set up for how their brain works?

We now know that dyslexic brains work differently to those of other people – with more activity in the frontal lobe and less in other areas.

This means people with the condition can struggle with reading, writing, spelling and memory. They can be punished for not trying and for perceived laziness.

But in reality, it isn’t a choice and doesn’t mean they lack intelligence – and they are actually better in some areas, like thinking visually.

Alan Kasujja has been speaking to Philip Ogola who was diagnosed with dyslexia as an adult and is now campaigning for better understanding - and to Phyllis Munyi-Kariuki, the Director of Dyslexia Organisation-Kenya and asks: how can people with dyslexia be better supported?