Sophia Mohammed

Revolutionized primary education access in East Africa through grassroots innovation

Sophia Mohammed (1912-1968) was a Kenyan educator who transformed rural education by creating the first mobile school system. Starting in 1945, she converted donated ox-carts into classrooms that traveled between Maasai villages, teaching over 10,000 children literacy and mathematics. Her 1953 book Education on Wheels inspired similar programs across Africa. She pioneered the use of local languages in instruction, developing Swahili primers that became national standards. In 1961, she established the Uhuru School Network which today operates 200+ schools. Her work influenced Kenya's 1963 Education Act mandating free primary education. The Sophia Mohammed Foundation (link) continues her mission, recently launching a digital learning platform serving 50,000+ students. Her 1965 TED-like lecture (video) remains a cornerstone of educational theory.