Embracing Plural Curricula Amid Neoliberalism in Contemporary Universities in Africa: Asante’s Afrocentric Idea Revisited
This paper focuses on how Asante’s idea of Afrocentricity could assist in the understanding of the main challenges and opportunities associated with curricula in Africa’s post-colonial universities. In terms of methodology, the paper constitutes a conceptual treatise that draws from previous empiri...
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University of Johannesburg
2024-05-01
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| Series: | The Thinker |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/The_Thinker/article/view/3223 |
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| author | Phefumula Nyoni Otilia Chiramba |
| author_facet | Phefumula Nyoni Otilia Chiramba |
| author_sort | Phefumula Nyoni |
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This paper focuses on how Asante’s idea of Afrocentricity could assist in the understanding of the main challenges and
opportunities associated with curricula in Africa’s post-colonial universities. In terms of methodology, the paper constitutes a conceptual treatise that draws from previous empirical research that focused on Afrocentricity and a plural programme – the extended curriculum programme within a university context where neoliberalism remains dominant. In this regard, the paper combines an extensive review of empirical cases and the authors’ experiences of the extended curriculum programmes in diverse South African universities. Literature was reviewed from a wide range of sources that included Afrocentricity and curriculum transformation through plurality at individual and institutional pedagogic levels. The paper explores the complex nature of pedagogic transformation mainly due to the persistence of Western ideals under a resurgent neoliberal philosophy that shapes practices in contemporary university spaces. The paper thus highlights how Afrocentricity transcends simplistic notions of intellectual discussions as it highlights serious
and practical realities that shape the identities, ideals, aspirations, and values of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. In the process, ways in which pedagogic educational aspirations of the students could be redefined through an Afrocentric approach together with constraints are discussed. The individualist-oriented complications posed by neoliberal ideals that tend to contradict
and, in some instances, hinder the Afrocentric core principle of inclusivity have left African universities at a crossroads with little to show in terms of progress in the transformation agenda.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-32cb0d1d6d9a4db2b40ccc321f52a4a8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-2458 2616-907X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-05-01 |
| publisher | University of Johannesburg |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Thinker |
| spelling | doaj-art-32cb0d1d6d9a4db2b40ccc321f52a4a82025-01-28T09:01:38ZengUniversity of JohannesburgThe Thinker2075-24582616-907X2024-05-0199210.36615/26a6d747Embracing Plural Curricula Amid Neoliberalism in Contemporary Universities in Africa: Asante’s Afrocentric Idea RevisitedPhefumula Nyonihttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-6667-4479Otilia Chirambahttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4668-8536 This paper focuses on how Asante’s idea of Afrocentricity could assist in the understanding of the main challenges and opportunities associated with curricula in Africa’s post-colonial universities. In terms of methodology, the paper constitutes a conceptual treatise that draws from previous empirical research that focused on Afrocentricity and a plural programme – the extended curriculum programme within a university context where neoliberalism remains dominant. In this regard, the paper combines an extensive review of empirical cases and the authors’ experiences of the extended curriculum programmes in diverse South African universities. Literature was reviewed from a wide range of sources that included Afrocentricity and curriculum transformation through plurality at individual and institutional pedagogic levels. The paper explores the complex nature of pedagogic transformation mainly due to the persistence of Western ideals under a resurgent neoliberal philosophy that shapes practices in contemporary university spaces. The paper thus highlights how Afrocentricity transcends simplistic notions of intellectual discussions as it highlights serious and practical realities that shape the identities, ideals, aspirations, and values of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. In the process, ways in which pedagogic educational aspirations of the students could be redefined through an Afrocentric approach together with constraints are discussed. The individualist-oriented complications posed by neoliberal ideals that tend to contradict and, in some instances, hinder the Afrocentric core principle of inclusivity have left African universities at a crossroads with little to show in terms of progress in the transformation agenda. https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/The_Thinker/article/view/3223AfrocentricityExtended Curriculum Programmes (ECPs)NeoliberalismPluralityPostcolonial University |
| spellingShingle | Phefumula Nyoni Otilia Chiramba Embracing Plural Curricula Amid Neoliberalism in Contemporary Universities in Africa: Asante’s Afrocentric Idea Revisited The Thinker Afrocentricity Extended Curriculum Programmes (ECPs) Neoliberalism Plurality Postcolonial University |
| title | Embracing Plural Curricula Amid Neoliberalism in Contemporary Universities in Africa: Asante’s Afrocentric Idea Revisited |
| title_full | Embracing Plural Curricula Amid Neoliberalism in Contemporary Universities in Africa: Asante’s Afrocentric Idea Revisited |
| title_fullStr | Embracing Plural Curricula Amid Neoliberalism in Contemporary Universities in Africa: Asante’s Afrocentric Idea Revisited |
| title_full_unstemmed | Embracing Plural Curricula Amid Neoliberalism in Contemporary Universities in Africa: Asante’s Afrocentric Idea Revisited |
| title_short | Embracing Plural Curricula Amid Neoliberalism in Contemporary Universities in Africa: Asante’s Afrocentric Idea Revisited |
| title_sort | embracing plural curricula amid neoliberalism in contemporary universities in africa asante s afrocentric idea revisited |
| topic | Afrocentricity Extended Curriculum Programmes (ECPs) Neoliberalism Plurality Postcolonial University |
| url | https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/The_Thinker/article/view/3223 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT phefumulanyoni embracingpluralcurriculaamidneoliberalismincontemporaryuniversitiesinafricaasantesafrocentricidearevisited AT otiliachiramba embracingpluralcurriculaamidneoliberalismincontemporaryuniversitiesinafricaasantesafrocentricidearevisited |