Students debate decolonisation of education
Students debate decolonisation of education
The panelists and the MC for the day
Qhawekazi Memani
On 24 August, the Student Christian Organisation (SCO-VUT) hosted a debate on the decolonisation of education at the Amphitheatre which was facilitated by Buyisizwe Mkhatshwa the SCO-President and the member of SCO Xolani Mbingo.
Different definitions of what decolonisation is, were given by the audience. Clement Maredi, one of the panel members, gave a brief overview of what he understands by decolonisation and said: “History teaches us everything; people must shy away from mental slavery”. The issue of decolonisation began in 1976 and was even back then addressing the issue of the curriculum that dehumanises black students, undermines the own thinking of Africans and channels them into one education system.
“We need education that pushes interaction of African people, that’s serving Africa and that shies away from European practices. Africans are not taught how to make money but are taught how to run after money,” he said.
“The current curriculum produces liberal African graduates instead of pure communist and Pan Africanist minds, who do not encourage black people to own strategic sectors within the economy or land. We need to decolonise those minds that are colonised. Guard black consciousness, be jealous of it and do not be defeated. As Steve Biko said, ‘Black is not an ideology but an attitude,’” said Gcinabantu Ngceke; former president of the Student Representative Council (SRC).
“We cannot have a decolonised education or institutions in a colonised society. The issue that divides us is the issue of the land. When the land was taken, the means of living were taken – black people were then forced to work for white people. Black people were stripped of their sense of being African, when you don’t have land you must work for someone who has it,” said Mandisi Gladile.
“The culture of institutions does not speak to where we come from. Students do not get introduced to the university culture; that is why students decide to have families in residences. Before we speak to the curriculum we must speak to the recipient first,” said Sfiso Xaba.
Amongst many other things that the audience and the panel raised was the scrapping of all the cases of students who participated in the #feesmustfall era, the need for support of African brands and the preservation of all different African cultural elements.