Home Institution
The George Washington University
Publication Date
Fall 2017
Abstract
Colonial structures persist in the South African higher education system, which perpetuates Eurocentric knowledge as a superior way of knowing. There has been a call to action by South African university students to decolonize the oppressive structures within the higher education system. This project examines how both former and current South African university students envision a decolonized higher education system. Furthermore, it gives insight into how a colonized education has impacted students personally. Additionally, the autoethnographic form of this project integrates the researcher’s relationship to colonized education systems as a way to connect self, other, and culture in a more authentic way. This inquiry utilizes interviews, poetry, self-reflection, and a wide range of literature to explore possibilities for creating a decolonized higher education system in South Africa. Ultimately, this project aims to raise individual’s critical consciousness on how to the plant seeds that can stimulate progress working towards a more inclusive education system for the future.
Disciplines
African Languages and Societies | African Studies | Creative Writing | Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies | Secondary Education | Social and Cultural Anthropology | Women's Studies
Recommended Citation
Nadanasabesan, Ajetha, "“Don’t Talk Like A European”: An Autoethnography Exploring Past and Current Students’ Visions on How to Decolonize Higher Education in South Africa" (2017). Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection. 2699.
https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/isp_collection/2699
Included in
African Languages and Societies Commons, African Studies Commons, Creative Writing Commons, Race, Ethnicity and Post-Colonial Studies Commons, Secondary Education Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons, Women's Studies Commons
Program Name
South Africa: Community Health and Social Policy