An often-quoted Nigerian proverb holds that it is the responsibility of the whole village to teach a child. This paper argues that this goal might not even be possible, given the complex educational system of the 1990s. The paper provides a framework for effective change based on an understanding of the complexity of the educational system. It first looks at the call for change and reform and then discusses systematic change. Some of the aspects of systems theory are reviewed, including the implications of the systems approach for education. The final section discusses the importance of goals and socialization for the complex system of education. A conclusion is that lining up the elements in a planned intervention, based on a systems perspective, will increase the likelihood that the community will be focused on the education of every child. (Contains 24 references.) (LMI)