TUBUO Writes Daily Brief — October 8, 2026

Quote of the Day

“One teacher, one activist, one parent — no one can change the world on their own.” — Malala Yousafzai

Malala Yousafzai said these words on July 12, 2023, during a speech at the United Nations House in Abuja, Nigeria. Ten years earlier, at just 16, she had told the world that one child, one teacher, one book and one pen could change the world. A decade of advocacy had taught her something more: change can begin with one person, but lasting change requires people working together.

There is something deeply human about that admission.

We often celebrate people who stand up against injustice. The courageous woman who challenges an abusive practice. The teacher who refuses to give up on a struggling child. The young activist who questions a decision everybody else has accepted.

We admire their courage. We share their stories. Sometimes we even call them heroes.

But what happens when the applause ends?

That teacher still needs resources. The woman speaking against abuse needs protection. The activist needs a community willing to stand beside them when speaking becomes difficult.

Courage can begin with one person. The responsibility for change should not end there.

Perhaps we should spend less time asking why more people are not brave enough to stand alone and more time asking what we are doing to ensure they do not have to.

Source: Malala Fund — Malala Day 2023

Did You Know?

A child can know the answer and still fail to understand the question.

Imagine a seven-year-old who can explain, in the language spoken at home, why plants need water to grow. The child understands the question perfectly.

Then comes the classroom.

The teacher asks the same question in a language the child barely understands. Suddenly, a child who knows the answer appears not to know anything.

This is one reason the language used in education matters.

According to UNESCO, 40% of people worldwide lack access to education in a language they speak and understand fluently. Its 2025 guidance on multilingual education estimates that more than 250 million learners are affected.

The consequences can be serious. Children may struggle to follow lessons, participate in discussions or demonstrate what they know. UNESCO reports that children taught in a language they speak at home are more likely to read with understanding by the end of primary school.

Consider Cameroon, where the education system has English-speaking and French-speaking branches, while many children grow up speaking other languages at home. National languages have increasingly been incorporated into school curricula, but language remains an important consideration in how children learn.

This is not an argument against learning English, French or any other language. Knowing several languages can open doors.

The question is whether children must first struggle through an unfamiliar language before they are allowed to demonstrate their intelligence.

A child’s difficulty understanding the language of instruction should never be mistaken for a lack of ability.

Sometimes the problem is not that the child cannot learn.

It is that we have not yet found the best way to teach them.

Sources: UNESCO — Languages and education · UNESCO — Mother-language-based education

For discussion: Should children begin their education in the language they understand best before gradually transitioning to other languages? What might this mean for multilingual countries like Cameroon?