ASSIGNMENT 2
DUE DATE: 9 SEPTEMBER 2026
, TMN3706 ASSIGNMENT 2 2026
DUE 9 SEPTEMBER 2026
QUESTION 1: UBUNTU AS A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR TEACHING
SOCIAL SCIENCES
1.1.1. Ubuntu in South African Education
Ubuntu is a traditional African philosophy often summarised by the phrase “umuntu
ngumuntu ngabantu” a person is a person through other people. In South African
education, Ubuntu emphasises interconnectedness, respect, empathy, and collective
responsibility. The study guide refers to “Ubuntugogy” a pedagogy informed by the
principles of Ubuntu (TMN3706 Study Guide, p. 43). This approach contrasts with
individualistic, competitive models of education. Within the Social Sciences classroom,
Ubuntu translates into cooperative learning, where learners work together to construct
knowledge. It encourages teachers to create a caring, inclusive environment where
every learner’s voice is valued. For example, when teaching History, an Ubuntu
approach would focus on how communities supported each other during apartheid,
rather than only highlighting individual heroes. In Geography, it would emphasise
sustainable living and communal land use. Ubuntu thus aligns with the democratic
values of the South African Constitution and the CAPS emphasis on social justice.
1.1.2. Ubuntu Understood Directly by Literature (6.25 marks)
Academic literature defines Ubuntu as both a philosophical concept and a practical
ethical framework. According to the study guide, Bangura (2005) introduced
“Ubuntugogy” as an African educational paradigm that transcends Western pedagogies
(TMN3706 Study Guide, p. 43). Literature describes Ubuntu as involving values such as
compassion, reciprocity, dignity, and harmony. For Social Sciences teaching, this
means that lessons should not only transmit knowledge but also build character and