Conceptualising community engagement through the lens of African indigenous education

The conceptualisation of “community engagement” at Higher Education in South Africa remains a topic for debate in the transformation agenda. South African Indigenous knowledge has been transmitted and perennially refreshed through educational pedagogy that are characterized by a sensitivity to Afri...

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Main Author: Surversperi Suryakumari Rajah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of the Free State 2020-03-01
Series:Perspectives in Education
Subjects:
Online Access:http://196.255.246.28/index.php/pie/article/view/4251
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author Surversperi Suryakumari Rajah
author_facet Surversperi Suryakumari Rajah
author_sort Surversperi Suryakumari Rajah
collection DOAJ
description The conceptualisation of “community engagement” at Higher Education in South Africa remains a topic for debate in the transformation agenda. South African Indigenous knowledge has been transmitted and perennially refreshed through educational pedagogy that are characterized by a sensitivity to African Philosophy, axiology and the spirit of Ubuntu. This article presents a qualitative critical review from the perspective of African indigenous education of the conceptualisation of community engagement. Community engagement is explored as a contemporary pedagogical counterpart to the indigenous pedagogies that supported African epistemology and axiology and community engagement is positioned within a natural evolution of the South African indigenous education and human development framework. Since children are the most vulnerable and affected community it is postulated that a student-centred framework for community engagement would offer an empowering praxis for a new South African Indigenous Education. Community engagement conceptualised within African Indigenous Knowledge Systems is argued as a means towards authentic transformation giving “voice” and “agency” to communities across all levels of education. Within this framework, the article affirms the use of indigenous concepts and practices within a transformed education system where Higher Education assumes a key role-player in human development from the cradle to the grave.
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spelling doaj.art-ee851a2bb16c491684e9477d298327232024-03-18T11:10:20ZengUniversity of the Free StatePerspectives in Education0258-22362519-593X2020-03-0137110.18820/2519593X/pie.v37i1.1Conceptualising community engagement through the lens of African indigenous educationSurversperi Suryakumari Rajah0University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa The conceptualisation of “community engagement” at Higher Education in South Africa remains a topic for debate in the transformation agenda. South African Indigenous knowledge has been transmitted and perennially refreshed through educational pedagogy that are characterized by a sensitivity to African Philosophy, axiology and the spirit of Ubuntu. This article presents a qualitative critical review from the perspective of African indigenous education of the conceptualisation of community engagement. Community engagement is explored as a contemporary pedagogical counterpart to the indigenous pedagogies that supported African epistemology and axiology and community engagement is positioned within a natural evolution of the South African indigenous education and human development framework. Since children are the most vulnerable and affected community it is postulated that a student-centred framework for community engagement would offer an empowering praxis for a new South African Indigenous Education. Community engagement conceptualised within African Indigenous Knowledge Systems is argued as a means towards authentic transformation giving “voice” and “agency” to communities across all levels of education. Within this framework, the article affirms the use of indigenous concepts and practices within a transformed education system where Higher Education assumes a key role-player in human development from the cradle to the grave. http://196.255.246.28/index.php/pie/article/view/4251African indigenous educationUbuntuIndigenous axiologyIndigenous pedagogyHumanizing pedagogyChild-centred
spellingShingle Surversperi Suryakumari Rajah
Conceptualising community engagement through the lens of African indigenous education
Perspectives in Education
African indigenous education
Ubuntu
Indigenous axiology
Indigenous pedagogy
Humanizing pedagogy
Child-centred
title Conceptualising community engagement through the lens of African indigenous education
title_full Conceptualising community engagement through the lens of African indigenous education
title_fullStr Conceptualising community engagement through the lens of African indigenous education
title_full_unstemmed Conceptualising community engagement through the lens of African indigenous education
title_short Conceptualising community engagement through the lens of African indigenous education
title_sort conceptualising community engagement through the lens of african indigenous education
topic African indigenous education
Ubuntu
Indigenous axiology
Indigenous pedagogy
Humanizing pedagogy
Child-centred
url http://196.255.246.28/index.php/pie/article/view/4251
work_keys_str_mv AT surversperisuryakumarirajah conceptualisingcommunityengagementthroughthelensofafricanindigenouseducation