My project

USING UBUNTU LENSES TO DECOLONIZE TEACHER EDUCATION CURRICULUM: A CASE OF PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION MODULE IN ONE SOUTH AFRICAN UNIVERSITY

The above beef pieces resemble my individual project and my contribution to TAU Enquiry Group 4 decolonization of higher education project. My project (beef pieces) is about reviewing the Philosophy of Education Module in such a way that it embraces Ubuntu values.

Ubuntu is an African philosophy which is described as a way of engaging with others that promotes critical thinking, non-domination, and the best possible growth of interpersonal relationships. Ubuntu indicates that each person's humanity is best represented in their interactions with other people. caring, forgiveness, sharing, equality, sympathy, empathy, compassion, respect, tolerance, humanness and harmony for others. Decolonization of higher education project is a complex process involving multiple processes and has countless indicators which are among others related to language, epistemic, curriculum, politics, economic issues, social issues, cultural issues and so on. TAU project Enquiry Group 2 looks at decolonization of higher education project in different focus areas (ingredients) and all these areas contribute to the bigger project (decolonization) in different ways. These focus areas are like ingredients of the beef stew (decolonization of higher education project).

 Each of the group members has his/her focus area which we refer to as an ingredient. As part of the beef stew I contribute beef pieces (Philosophy of Education Module review) and other group members contribute other ingredients which make the beef stew (decolonization project) delicious (successful). My individual project (focus area) involves the amendment of Philosophy of Education Module in such a way that it embraces the principles of Ubuntu (an African philosophy). This means that I am focusing on curriculum transformation with specific reference to the Philosophy of Education Module. For a beef stew to taste good it needs multiple ingrediencies and effort.

The wood and fire you see in the TAU Enquiry Group 2 is an effort. The three-legged pot resembles interpersonal relationships, collaboration and solidarity and the contents of the pot is a beef stew which is made up of beef pieces (my project) and other ingredients.  The smoke is the gradual extinction of colonial order in higher education.