TPS2601 ASSIGNMENT 50 2024
PREVIEW
PORTFOLIO
PICTURES INCLUDED
ALL LESSON PLANS INCLUDED
NATALIE FOXX
TPS2601
ASSIGNMENT 50 2024
1
NATALIE FOXX
, TPS2601 ASSIGNMENT 50 2024
An African philosophy of education
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 – one that articulates the lived reality – is needed. This philosophy could
become a useful tool that provides a perspective from which 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 follow. 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).
2
NATALIE FOXX
, TPS2601 ASSIGNMENT 50 2024
Principles: Mkabela – An African approach to education.
Own understanding of concept and examples of implementation and teaching practice.
African communalism:
Community and belonging to a community are 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.
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. The 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
concept and examples of implementation. What does this mean in your practice as a teacher?
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.
3
NATALIE FOXX
, TPS2601 ASSIGNMENT 50 2024
Principles: Our schools are situated in the South African context. Principles that guide African ways
of thinking, which might 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 concept and examples of implementation. What does this mean in your
practice as a teacher?
Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS)
A complex set of activities, values, beliefs and practices that evolved over time and that are still
actively practiced. 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 the wisdom of others.
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 and it involves the expertise of multiple teachers. Mazrui
refers to pillars of wisdom in integrating indigenous knowledge – tolerance, social justice and the
like and Lave and Wenger speak of situated learning, while Letseka mentions Ubuntu values such
as respect and ways of learning.
You will need to have your own understanding of the concept of IKS and be able to give examples of
how it will be implemented. What does this mean in your practice as a teacher?
7.2.1 Discuss the following concepts: Decolonisation, African communalism, Ubuntu, and
Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and explain how an African Philosophy influences your teaching
context. Provide examples (20).
To discuss the concepts of Decolonisation, African communalism, Ubuntu, and Indigenous Knowledge
Systems (IKS) and explain how an African Philosophy influences my teaching context, I can consider the
following points:
Decolonisation:
4
NATALIE FOXX
PREVIEW
PORTFOLIO
PICTURES INCLUDED
ALL LESSON PLANS INCLUDED
NATALIE FOXX
TPS2601
ASSIGNMENT 50 2024
1
NATALIE FOXX
, TPS2601 ASSIGNMENT 50 2024
An African philosophy of education
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 – one that articulates the lived reality – is needed. This philosophy could
become a useful tool that provides a perspective from which 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 follow. 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).
2
NATALIE FOXX
, TPS2601 ASSIGNMENT 50 2024
Principles: Mkabela – An African approach to education.
Own understanding of concept and examples of implementation and teaching practice.
African communalism:
Community and belonging to a community are 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.
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. The 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
concept and examples of implementation. What does this mean in your practice as a teacher?
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.
3
NATALIE FOXX
, TPS2601 ASSIGNMENT 50 2024
Principles: Our schools are situated in the South African context. Principles that guide African ways
of thinking, which might 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 concept and examples of implementation. What does this mean in your
practice as a teacher?
Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS)
A complex set of activities, values, beliefs and practices that evolved over time and that are still
actively practiced. 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 the wisdom of others.
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 and it involves the expertise of multiple teachers. Mazrui
refers to pillars of wisdom in integrating indigenous knowledge – tolerance, social justice and the
like and Lave and Wenger speak of situated learning, while Letseka mentions Ubuntu values such
as respect and ways of learning.
You will need to have your own understanding of the concept of IKS and be able to give examples of
how it will be implemented. What does this mean in your practice as a teacher?
7.2.1 Discuss the following concepts: Decolonisation, African communalism, Ubuntu, and
Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) and explain how an African Philosophy influences your teaching
context. Provide examples (20).
To discuss the concepts of Decolonisation, African communalism, Ubuntu, and Indigenous Knowledge
Systems (IKS) and explain how an African Philosophy influences my teaching context, I can consider the
following points:
Decolonisation:
4
NATALIE FOXX
