Rethinking higher education transformation in terms of an African(a) philosophy

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The central question of this study is whether higher education transformation can occurwithout taking into consideration an African(a) philosophy of education in South Africa.I hold that higher education policy initiatives as promulgated in the policy documentssuch as the National Plan for Higher Education (NPHE) (2001) and Education WhitePaper 3 (1997) on Higher Education Transformation may not be realised if policy is notembedded in the practices of the South African majority. I explore the negative impactthat the marketisation of higher education may have on equitable redress in South Africa.It is my attempt to show that higher education transformation can have a positive effecton change in the country if implemented or framed according to an African(a) philosophyof education. With this study I therefore demonstrate how elements of African(a)philosophies such as culture, storytelling and indigenous languages can be tapped asnecessary resources for deep transformation in higher education in South Africa.My mam contention is that the dismissal of African voices in higher educationdiscourse would be detrimental to the achievement of deep transformation in highereducation. Despite the weakness of African(a) philosophy, I articulate what the NPHE(2001) fails to advocate in relation to what an African(a) philosophy of education couldmean.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University