Abstract
Africa's contemporary education system, particularly Nigeria's, boasts impressive policies and programs. However, a critical flaw undermines student potential and national development: economic determinism and parental pressure forcing children into ill-suited disciplines, culminating in social maladjustment. This paper examines the educational sector's issues and advocates integrating Jean-Paul Sartre's existential philosophy of authenticity to foster students' genuine intellectual and personal growth.
Key words: Sartre, philosophy, authenticity, development