TPS 2601 ASSignment 50 ITU_compressed.
TPS2601/103
ASSIGNMENT 50
MODULE CODE: TPS2601
STUDENT NUMBER:
UNIQUE NUMBER:
DUE DATE:15NOVEMBER 2020
ITUMELENG MMUSI
TPS2601/103
1.1 AN AFRICAN PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION
To improve education in South Africa, teachers need to be aware of the context...
To improve education in South Africa, teachers need to be aware of the contextual factors that affect
life and education. The lived realities as experienced by our society or communities provide a
background to understand challenges from their unique contexts. An African philosophy of education
based on these realities, that articulates the lived reality is needed. This philosophy could become
a useful tool that provides a perspective to define and address problems. This approach can improve
education and life on different levels. (Higgs, 2003)
The reality experienced by a diverse African community suggests a spirit of communality as
expressed in an indigenous African knowledge system. General unifying themes describe concepts
in African philosophy that are related to education. To complete this portfolio, it is important that you
understand these concepts.
Read the information in the following table. The concept is explained first and the principles
underlying or supporting the concept follows. To ensure that you understand the information, explain
it in your own words in one sentence in the space provided.
To complete this portfolio, it is important that you understand the concepts described below.
General themes or concepts that are important for educators in South Africa
1. Decolonisation (Education)
An active process to change the western-dominated philosophy and approach to education
to a balanced approach where indigenous knowledge and pedagogies are acknowledged and
genuinely incorporated into the formal educational system. Multiple perspectives are included
to make education relevant and practical to address needs and challenges within specific
contexts. (Owuor: 2007)
Principles: Mkabela – An African approach to education
Own understanding of concept and examples of implementation and teaching practice.
- An African belief of an educational approach to modern ways of knowledge that
enlightens teachers, learners and parents about accountability within the
educational approach in a way of addressing obstacles/problems which include
common challenges such as abuse, violence and many more.
2. African communalism:
Community and belonging to a community is an important aspect of African life. An individual
is conceptualised in terms of her/his connectedness in a community. Letseka (2000).
, Principles: Individuals are interdependent. Human relationships are important. Content and
knowledge must be useful for practice.
Own understanding of concept and examples of implementation and teaching practice.
- A way that Africans been living/functioning through the past years, commonly
known as traditional resemblance. It is a value or worth to human dignity, rights and
responsibility. This is whereby people live and are part of the community, and are
involved within community activities of building relationships with community
members and passing knowledge and opportunities to one another.
3. Ubuntu (Humanness)
A philosophy that promotes the common good of society. It focuses on ethical standards that
a person acquires throughout his/her life and therefore education plays a very important role
in transferring the African philosophy of life. The values of caring, sharing and dignity are
important. Letseka (2000)
Principles: Understanding the uniqueness of all persons. Recognising the humanity of others to
affirm your own humanity. Welfare of others is important. Fairness and humanness are crucial to
personal well-being.
In a fulfilled and flourishing life persons are reasonably well fed, well clothed and housed, in good
health, loved, secure, and able to make a conscious effort to treat others with fairness and
humanness. Fairness and communality; individuals are interdependent. Human relationships are
important.
Therefore, respect, interpersonal skills and cooperative skills are important. Own
understanding of concept and examples of implementation. What does this mean in your
practice as a teacher?
- Ubuntu in simple terms is “Humanity”. It is the connection or bond between people and
sharing of various things in life that makes us as people united and connected. As a
teacher, I am responsible to share information and knowledge to learners in order for them
to have better enlightenment and motivation to prepare for life and building a future from
the fundamentals teachers pass to them as learners. In school, there are Ubuntu objectives
which have value and meaning to Ubuntu, which include forgiving, sharing, empathy,
respecting, tolerance, caring, compassioning, and harmony for others (Learners, teachers,
parents)
4. Africanisation:
Using an African point of departure to change or incorporate the African outlook and character
in all aspects of an education grounded in a South African context.
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