TPS2601 ASSIGNMENT 50
NAME: LEONARD
SURNAME: RAMS
MODULE CODE: TPS2601
DATE OF SUBMISION: 30 AUGUST 2019/ SIMILAR TO 2021
, TPS2601/103/0/2019
Tutorial Letter 103/0/2019 Teaching practice for Senior Phase (Grades 7–9) /FET (Grades 10–12)
Assignment 50. Year module.
PLEASE NOTE IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
PORTFOLIO: Teaching Practice for SENIOR PHASE (Grades 7–9) and FET PHASE
(Grades 10–12))
Unique number: 751652
Final submission date: September 2019
Please remember to write your student number on assignments.
STUDENT NAME AND SURNAME: LEONARD RAMABOKA
STUDENT NUMBER: 63162717
Bar code
,TPS2601/103
3.2 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, 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.
Means that a nation must become independent with regards to the acquisition of knowledge skills, values beliefs and
habits
For example: there was a war of independence in French Indochina, while in some countries in French West Africa
(excluding the Maghreb countries) decolonization resulted from a combination of insurrection and negotiation.
Decolonisation of the classroom to empower students to develop their own understanding of the African context and to
become able to deliver culturally sensitive services.
15
, 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.
Refers to the traditional way rural areas of Africa have been functioning in the past. African communalism
does not necessarily see a conflict between individuals and community; they are mutually supportive, and
people are required to have the moral attitude of contributing to the community for their own well-being. This
attitude creates the priority of duty, which is for the fundamental goal of creating a community, in order to
provide the material conditions for actualizing individuals’ substantive rights and well-being.
Interdependence, "communalism," sensitivity towards others and caring for others are all aspects of "Ubuntu"
as a philosophy of life (Le Roux, 2000, p. 43). The community and belonging to a community is part of the
essence of traditional African life.
16
NAME: LEONARD
SURNAME: RAMS
MODULE CODE: TPS2601
DATE OF SUBMISION: 30 AUGUST 2019/ SIMILAR TO 2021
, TPS2601/103/0/2019
Tutorial Letter 103/0/2019 Teaching practice for Senior Phase (Grades 7–9) /FET (Grades 10–12)
Assignment 50. Year module.
PLEASE NOTE IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
PORTFOLIO: Teaching Practice for SENIOR PHASE (Grades 7–9) and FET PHASE
(Grades 10–12))
Unique number: 751652
Final submission date: September 2019
Please remember to write your student number on assignments.
STUDENT NAME AND SURNAME: LEONARD RAMABOKA
STUDENT NUMBER: 63162717
Bar code
,TPS2601/103
3.2 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, 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.
Means that a nation must become independent with regards to the acquisition of knowledge skills, values beliefs and
habits
For example: there was a war of independence in French Indochina, while in some countries in French West Africa
(excluding the Maghreb countries) decolonization resulted from a combination of insurrection and negotiation.
Decolonisation of the classroom to empower students to develop their own understanding of the African context and to
become able to deliver culturally sensitive services.
15
, 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.
Refers to the traditional way rural areas of Africa have been functioning in the past. African communalism
does not necessarily see a conflict between individuals and community; they are mutually supportive, and
people are required to have the moral attitude of contributing to the community for their own well-being. This
attitude creates the priority of duty, which is for the fundamental goal of creating a community, in order to
provide the material conditions for actualizing individuals’ substantive rights and well-being.
Interdependence, "communalism," sensitivity towards others and caring for others are all aspects of "Ubuntu"
as a philosophy of life (Le Roux, 2000, p. 43). The community and belonging to a community is part of the
essence of traditional African life.
16
