TPN2601
ASSIGNMENT 50
PORTFOLIO 2024
SEPTEMBER 2024
, TPN2601/103
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.
Decolonization in education means changing how schools teach and think. Instead of just
following Western ideas, it includes ideas from different cultures, especially those of indigenous
people. This helps make education more relevant to the lives of students and their
communities. One important idea is "Mkabela," which comes from Africa. It says we should
include the knowledge and traditions of local people in education. This helps students feel
connected to their culture and understand the world better.
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.
African communalism is about how people in Africa live and see themselves. It's all about being
part of a community and feeling connected to others. In African culture, people are not just
seen as individuals, but as part of a larger group.
The key idea is that everyone relies on each other. Relationships between people are really
important. This means that what people learn should be practical and useful for everyday life.
To put this into practice in teaching, educators can focus on activities that encourage
collaboration and teamwork. For example, group projects where students work together to
solve problems or create something can help them learn about the value of community.
,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?
Ubuntu is a philosophy from Africa about caring for others and treating them with kindness and
fairness. It's all about recognizing that every person is important and unique. When we show
respect and kindness to others, we also feel good about ourselves.
In everyday life, practicing Ubuntu means making sure everyone has what they need to live
comfortably—like food, clothes, and a safe place to stay. It also means being nice to others and
working together to help each other out.
As a teacher, following Ubuntu means treating your students with respect and teaching them to
be kind to each other. You help them learn how to work as a team and support one another. By
teaching Ubuntu values in the classroom, you show students how important it is to care for
others and treat everyone fairly.
14
, 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?
Africanisation is about embracing African perspectives and values in education, especially in
South Africa. It means incorporating African ways of thinking and learning into our schools to
make education more relevant for South African students.
For example, we respect that students may have different ways of learning, and we adapt our
teaching methods to accommodate these differences. We also use diverse assessment
methods that reflect African cultures and traditions.
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?
Indigenous Knowledge System (IKS) is like a treasure chest filled with wisdom passed down
from generation to generation in communities. It includes things like traditional skills, beliefs,
and ways of doing things that have been practiced for a long time. This knowledge isn't just
learned in schools; it's gained through everyday experiences and interactions within families
and communities.
In IKS, people learn from their elders and from each other as they go through life. It's all about
understanding and respecting the customs, values, and traditions of the community. As a
teacher, incorporating IKS into practice means teaching students about these traditional ways
of living and learning. It's about celebrating the unique knowledge and practices of different
cultures and communities, and showing students how valuable this wisdom is in our everyday
lives. Doing this, teachers can create a more inclusive and culturally rich learning environment
for everyone.
ASSIGNMENT 50
PORTFOLIO 2024
SEPTEMBER 2024
, TPN2601/103
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.
Decolonization in education means changing how schools teach and think. Instead of just
following Western ideas, it includes ideas from different cultures, especially those of indigenous
people. This helps make education more relevant to the lives of students and their
communities. One important idea is "Mkabela," which comes from Africa. It says we should
include the knowledge and traditions of local people in education. This helps students feel
connected to their culture and understand the world better.
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.
African communalism is about how people in Africa live and see themselves. It's all about being
part of a community and feeling connected to others. In African culture, people are not just
seen as individuals, but as part of a larger group.
The key idea is that everyone relies on each other. Relationships between people are really
important. This means that what people learn should be practical and useful for everyday life.
To put this into practice in teaching, educators can focus on activities that encourage
collaboration and teamwork. For example, group projects where students work together to
solve problems or create something can help them learn about the value of community.
,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?
Ubuntu is a philosophy from Africa about caring for others and treating them with kindness and
fairness. It's all about recognizing that every person is important and unique. When we show
respect and kindness to others, we also feel good about ourselves.
In everyday life, practicing Ubuntu means making sure everyone has what they need to live
comfortably—like food, clothes, and a safe place to stay. It also means being nice to others and
working together to help each other out.
As a teacher, following Ubuntu means treating your students with respect and teaching them to
be kind to each other. You help them learn how to work as a team and support one another. By
teaching Ubuntu values in the classroom, you show students how important it is to care for
others and treat everyone fairly.
14
, 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?
Africanisation is about embracing African perspectives and values in education, especially in
South Africa. It means incorporating African ways of thinking and learning into our schools to
make education more relevant for South African students.
For example, we respect that students may have different ways of learning, and we adapt our
teaching methods to accommodate these differences. We also use diverse assessment
methods that reflect African cultures and traditions.
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?
Indigenous Knowledge System (IKS) is like a treasure chest filled with wisdom passed down
from generation to generation in communities. It includes things like traditional skills, beliefs,
and ways of doing things that have been practiced for a long time. This knowledge isn't just
learned in schools; it's gained through everyday experiences and interactions within families
and communities.
In IKS, people learn from their elders and from each other as they go through life. It's all about
understanding and respecting the customs, values, and traditions of the community. As a
teacher, incorporating IKS into practice means teaching students about these traditional ways
of living and learning. It's about celebrating the unique knowledge and practices of different
cultures and communities, and showing students how valuable this wisdom is in our everyday
lives. Doing this, teachers can create a more inclusive and culturally rich learning environment
for everyone.
