Proceedings of The 5th International Academic Conference on Education, Teaching and Learning
Year: 2022
DOI:
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Pedagogy And Curriculum for A Transformed South African Reality
Sylvan Everton Blignaut
ABSTRACT:
Any curriculum is by its very nature situated as well as contextual and co-determined by place and time. I will commence my presentation by firstly reflecting on the role that education/curriculum should be playing in a transforming society such as South Africa. The Fees Must Fall movement by students have placed the curriculum at the centre of deliberations about transformation and decolonisation in South Africa. Secondly, I will argue that given our history where Apartheid and separation was legally enforceable and where almost every facet of our lives were determined by race-based politics it is unavoidable to teach for social justice. In teaching for social justice, I will argue that critical pedagogy is indispensable as a vehicle to confront this racial past. Lastly, I will argue that if we want to transform the curriculum in meaningful ways, we have to adopt alternative conceptualisations of knowledge and embrace a “pluralisation of knowledge”.
keywords: Critical pedagogy, higher education, purpose of education, social justice, pluralization of knowledge.