‘You have to change, the curriculum stays the same’: decoloniality and curricular justice in South African higher education

This article reports on a study that focuses on students from rural areas of South Africa and their experiences of higher education. These students have attracted little attention in widening participation research in South Africa, despite being one of the most marginalised groups. The article, drawing on the experiences of student co-researchers and using the concepts of decoloniality and curricular justice as a theoretical framework, argues for greater acknowledgement of epistemic reciprocity in curriculum development as a way to ensure more socially just curricula. Findings illustrate the importance that students attribute to being able to relate to curricula that reflect their experiences, curricula that they rarely experience in higher education. Students report feelings of marginalisation, lack of recognition of the importance of knowledge and skills developed in their communities and their relevance to higher education together with the challenges they face accessing and engaging with the curriculum.</p

An ending and a beginning: reflecting on reading the case studies on teaching in extended programmes [Conclusion]

Conclusion Chapter in bookThis chapter draws on a close meta-reflection and review of the different chapters in the book by two experienced higher education scholars. They tease out a series of overarching themes reflected in the different chapters in the collection. Through this thematic analysis they offer points of significance and lessons the wider university community might gain from the reflective inquiries and understandings of teaching presented by the authors in the book.ECP Unit, Fundani: Centre for Higher Education Development, at Cape Peninsula University of Technology, and Head of Department, James Garrawa