TPN2601
Assignment 50
PORTFOLIO
(COMPLETE
ANSWERS) 2024
- DUE 20
September 2024
, 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 the concept and examples of implementation and teaching
practice.
2. African communalism: Community and belonging to a community are an important aspect of
African life. An individual is conceptualised in terms of their 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.
3. Ubuntu (humanness) A philosophy that promotes the common good of society. It focuses on
ethical standards that a person acquires throughout their life and therefore education also plays a
very important role in transferring the African philosophy of life. The values of caring, sharing
and dignity are important. (Mosana) 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
people 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 the
concept and examples of implementation. What does this mean in your practice as a teacher?
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.
Principles: Our schools are situated in the South African context. Principles that guide African
ways of thinking, which may be invaluable in making education more accessible to South
African learners: Examples: Respect different ways of learning, (Letseka), use different
processes and methods of assessment (Beets & Le Grange). Use examples from South Africa and
other countries. Own understanding of the concept and examples of implementation. What does
this mean in your practice as a teacher?
5. Indigenous Knowledge System (IKS) A complex set of activities, values, beliefs and practices
that has evolved over time and is still actively practised. IKS is developed and sustained through
traditional education. It provides skills, trade, training and socialisation avenues. It is a process of
knowledge transmission that occurs within the context of family, community and cultural age
groups. A lifelong learning process involving progression through age groupings, seniority and
others’ wisdom. Principles: Knowledge and wisdom advance with the age and life experiences of
individuals. Knowledge is acquired through interaction with daily experiences and reflects the
community’s value systems. The purpose of IKS is to place knowledge within the context of the
user. It is handed down from one generation to another. It involves the expertise of multiple
teachers. Mazrui refers to pillars of wisdom in integrating indigenous knowledge – tolerance,
social justice, and the like. Lave and Wenger mention situated learning while Letseka talks about
ubuntu values such as respect and ways of learning. Own understanding of the concept and
examples of implementation. What does this mean in your practice as a teacher?
Assignment 50
PORTFOLIO
(COMPLETE
ANSWERS) 2024
- DUE 20
September 2024
, 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 the concept and examples of implementation and teaching
practice.
2. African communalism: Community and belonging to a community are an important aspect of
African life. An individual is conceptualised in terms of their 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.
3. Ubuntu (humanness) A philosophy that promotes the common good of society. It focuses on
ethical standards that a person acquires throughout their life and therefore education also plays a
very important role in transferring the African philosophy of life. The values of caring, sharing
and dignity are important. (Mosana) 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
people 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 the
concept and examples of implementation. What does this mean in your practice as a teacher?
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.
Principles: Our schools are situated in the South African context. Principles that guide African
ways of thinking, which may be invaluable in making education more accessible to South
African learners: Examples: Respect different ways of learning, (Letseka), use different
processes and methods of assessment (Beets & Le Grange). Use examples from South Africa and
other countries. Own understanding of the concept and examples of implementation. What does
this mean in your practice as a teacher?
5. Indigenous Knowledge System (IKS) A complex set of activities, values, beliefs and practices
that has evolved over time and is still actively practised. IKS is developed and sustained through
traditional education. It provides skills, trade, training and socialisation avenues. It is a process of
knowledge transmission that occurs within the context of family, community and cultural age
groups. A lifelong learning process involving progression through age groupings, seniority and
others’ wisdom. Principles: Knowledge and wisdom advance with the age and life experiences of
individuals. Knowledge is acquired through interaction with daily experiences and reflects the
community’s value systems. The purpose of IKS is to place knowledge within the context of the
user. It is handed down from one generation to another. It involves the expertise of multiple
teachers. Mazrui refers to pillars of wisdom in integrating indigenous knowledge – tolerance,
social justice, and the like. Lave and Wenger mention situated learning while Letseka talks about
ubuntu values such as respect and ways of learning. Own understanding of the concept and
examples of implementation. What does this mean in your practice as a teacher?
