Winnowing and Sifting Indigenous Knowledge
Philosophy, Sociology, Psychology, and the African Learner
Summary
Excerpt
Table Of Contents
- Cover
- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Contents
- List of Figures
- List of Tables
- Contextualized Strategies to Enhance Better Numeracy Attainment for Underperforming Learners in Rural Primary Schools (Mgcini Moyo, Christopher Ndlovu and Tryphine Dube Takaza)
- Introduction
- The concept of numeracy
- The rationale and application of numeracy
- Theoretical framework
- Intervention strategies to enhance better numeracy attainment in underperforming rural primary schools
- References
- Indigenous Knowledge Systems as Survival Strategy: The Mopane Worm Economy Among the Kalanga People of Mangwe, Zimbabwe (Innocent Nyathi)
- Introduction
- Methodology
- Theoretical underpinnings
- The mopane worm economy as IKS in Mangwe
- Mopane economy as a survival IKS
- Endangered IKS: Ethnicity, IKS, and resources in Mangwe
- IKS as empowerment: Mopane worm women cultivators
- Conclusion
- References
- Online articles
- Toward Identity Consciousness? An Analysis of the Role of Heritage Studies in Advancing IKS Education in Competence-Based Secondary School Curriculum in Zimbabwe (Hlengiwe Ncube)
- Introduction
- Background
- Perennialism and Education
- Why Heritage Studies in Zimbabwe’s secondary school curriculum?
- Unpacking the Concept of IKS
- Indigenous knowledge on production systems
- Indigenous knowledge of the environment
- Medicinal indigenous knowledge
- Political indigenous knowledge
- Religious indigenous knowledge
- Heritage Studies and IKS Education
- Exposes the concepts surrounding indigenous identity
- Explores governance issues in the indigenous context
- Exposes indigenous ways of adapting to the environment
- Promotes knowledge on indigenous economic activities
- Promotes knowledge on elements of indigenous culture
- Recommendations
- Conclusion
- References
- Ubuntu: An African Heritage (Ndondo Shepherd and Ndondo Semkeliso)
- Introduction
- Ubuntu: The pillar of African life
- Ubuntu dysfunction and global challenges
- Integrating ubuntu into existing bodies of knowledge for human security
- Conclusion
- References
- A Re-Look at Traditional and Natural Health Remedies in the Light of COVID-19 (Christopher Ndlovu and Mgcini Moyo)
- Introduction
- Indigenous knowledge
- Western knowledge systems
- Objectives of the chapter
- COVID-19 and African remedies
- Methods commonly used in traditional medicinal practices
- The effectiveness of the traditional preventative and curative measures
- Frequency use of the remedies
- Conclusion
- References
- Refocusing Arts and Culture Implementation for Socioeconomic Growth: Contextualizing the Secondary Education Curriculum in Zimbabwe (Emily Mangwaya and Ezron Mangwaya)
- Introduction
- Background
- Theoretical Framework: The Curriculum Spider Web
- Value of Implementing Arts and Culture
- Method
- Data Analysis and Ethical Considerations
- Findings
- Teachers’ understanding of Arts and Culture
- Responses from rural secondary school
- Responses from a Peri-Urban secondary school
- Discussion of findings on teachers’ understanding of Arts and Culture
- Approaches adopted in implementing Arts and Culture
- Responses from the rural school
- Responses from a peri-urban school
- Discussion of results on approaches used in implementing Arts and Culture in secondary schools
- References
- Exploring an Indigenous Epistemic Space for a Sustainable Early Childhood Development Program (Ndondo Semkeliso and Ndondo Shepherd)
- Introduction
- How ECD is being implemented in Zimbabwe
- A traditional education process for the young
- ECD program based on indigenous epistemologies
- Conclusion
- References
- Ancient Wisdoms: Exploring Traditional Family Practices as Resilient Security Measures for Unforeseen Events (Emmah Gonye and Kutenda Trinos)
- Introduction and background
- Literature review
- The resilience of familial bonds
- The wisdom of resource allocation
- Intergenerational knowledge transfer
- Communal cooperation and mutual aid
- Challenges and adaptations in modern society
- Theoretical framework: Resilience theory
- Resilience theory
- Methodology
- Findings
- Themes generated from qualitative interviews
- Theme 1: Sustainable farming practices and food security
- Theme 2: Cultural diversity in traditional practices
- Theme 3: Influence on personal values and beliefs
- Theme 4: The role of traditional practices in family dynamics and unity
- Theme 5: Challenges and conflicts associated with traditional practices
- Theme 6: Future evolution and adaptation of traditional practices
- Themes generated from archival records
- Theme 1: Traditional family structures and dynamics
- Theme 2: Coping mechanisms in times of adversity
- Theme 3: Cultural traditions and practices
- Theme 4: Economic livelihoods and livelihood strategies
- Discussion
- References
- African Philosophy and Democratic Values Education in Africa (Joseph Dzavo and Blessing Dzavo)
- Introduction
- Democratic values
- Justice
- Liberty
- Equality
- African Education before Colonialism
- Western Education as a catalyst to African instability
- African Methodology to Democratic Values Education in Africa
- Background to the Periphery–Center Framework
- Periphery–Center Framework
- Levels
- Class Level (Traditional Kraal Herd: Court Format)
- School Level (Traditional Herd-Man: Court Format)
- School-Community Partnership Level (Traditional Chief: Court Format)
- Approaches of presentations
- Exit Skills
- References
- Rethinking the Language of Instruction in Zimbabwe: Past, Present and Future (Agreement Ndlovu)
- Introduction
- Afrocentric views on a medium of instruction
- Winds of change
- Future directions
- Summary
- References
- Disturbing Contexts in Rural Learning Ecologies for Better Learning and Livelihoods (Christopher Ndlovu)
- Introduction
- Theory of Change
- Conditions and Experiences in Rural Schools
- What is Quality Curriculum that is Relevant to Rural Environments?
- Conclusion
- References
- Bibliography
- Index
List of Figures
Figure 1:A photograph showing a woman with a seemingly large harvest of mopane worms in the process of being dried
Figure 2:First fruits
Figure 3:Rain making ceremony event
Figure 4:(a) Dried fish and (b) Wood ash
Figure 5:Periphery–Center framework implementation
Figure 6:Illustration of the use of approaches of presentations
List of Tables
Table 1:Methods commonly followed in traditional African medicine
Table 2:The sources of the most commonly used traditional measures
Table 3:Measures to recognize and promote the usage of traditional medicines
Contextualized Strategies to Enhance Better Numeracy Attainment for Underperforming Learners in Rural Primary Schools
ABSTRACT
This introductory chapter outlines the main themes of this book and highlights how quality education can be enhanced through the use of indigenous knowledge systems in rural setups. The growing global inequalities, which are particularly pronounced on the African continent, are discussed as one of the main reasons why most African countries, including Zimbabwe, may fail the reach the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4, which is the provision of quality and inclusive education for all by the year 2030. It illustrates the common challenges faced by many African countries as a result of colonialism, globalization, and the growing influence of multinational corporations that only want to develop the already developed urban areas. Further, the chapter points to the role of rural communities in improving teaching and learning in rural spaces.
Keywords: contextualized strategies, numeracy, culturally responsive curriculum, rural education
Introduction
The provision of good quality basic education and the persistence of low educational attainment remain key challenges in many sub-Saharan African countries (Shaturaev, 2021; Mathase, 2021; Du Plessis & Mestry, 2019). According to the EFA Global Monitoring Report, out of 650 million primary-school-aged children in sub-Saharan Africa, nearly 250 million lack basic numeracy skills (UNESCO, 2015). The underperformance of students in literacy and numeracy in rural primary schools has been a cause of much concern for stakeholders in the education and public sector (Mohale, et al., 2021; Fah, 2021; Zhang et al., 2021). Gaps in achievement between rural and urban students persist despite several reform programs and government initiatives attempting to address these disparities (Schaub, 2020; Woods-McConney et al., 2013). The education and teaching strategies that have been used has seen the rural child underperforming compared to their urban counterparts (Zhang & Luo, 2016; Zhang & Xue, 2015; Addy, 2013; Lounkaew, 2013).
Details
- Pages
- X, 166
- Publication Year
- 2026
- ISBN (PDF)
- 9783034351393
- ISBN (ePUB)
- 9783034351409
- ISBN (Hardcover)
- 9783034351416
- DOI
- 10.3726/b22125
- Language
- English
- Publication date
- 2026 (March)
- Keywords
- Winnowing Indigenous knowledge ubuntu philosophy ways of knowing better livelihoods
- Published
- New York, Berlin, Bruxelles, Chennai, Lausanne, Oxford, 2026. X, 166 pp., 6 b/w ill., 3 tables.
- Product Safety
- Peter Lang Group AG
