The incorporation of education for sustainable development in Technology Education for an indigenous context

Abstract

The United Nations Conference on “Environment and Development” emphasised the significance of the concept of sustainable development (SD). The concept's development has revealed difficulties with implementation in schools. The Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) emphasises the recognition of indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) in Technology Education (TE). However, CAPS is silent about Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), therefore adding to teachers not considering ESD in their teaching. Hence, in this context, this study aimed to explore ways that can promote ESD in the teaching of Technology, particularly within an indigenous context. Adopting a constructivist paradigm, the study used a qualitative research approach. A descriptive case study was chosen as appropriate for the study. Eight (8) Senior Phase Technology teachers and a Curriculum Subject Advisor (CSA) for the General Education and Training Band at Ehlanzeni District, Mpumalanga Province participated in the study. The findings revealed that, while Technology teachers understand the concepts of SD and ESD, they are still not teaching Technology in a way that promotes ESD. The interpretation of the CAPS in relation to sustainability in the subject was identified as a challenge. The findings revealed that the way Technology is taught further jeopardises IKS which could otherwise be used to promote ESD; so, Technology teaching is still Westernised to a great extent. The findings of the study also revealed that collaboration and teamwork, along with social constructivist-related aspects such as Community of Practices, Ubuntu, culture, and so on, would facilitate the teaching of ESD in the TE curriculum. Hence, a framework for incorporating ESD into the Technology curriculum in an indigenous context was developed in the study. The findings have implications for future research on the incorporation of ESD in the TE curriculum, as well as for practice by Technology teachers and curriculum implementers on ESD teaching in Technology.

INgcungcutsela Yenhlangano Yetive "ngeMvelo kanye neNtfutfuko" igcizelele kubaluleka kwemcondvo wentfutfuko lesimeme (i-SD). Kutfutfukiswa kwalomcondvo kuvete bumetima bekuphumelelisa etikolweni. Sitatimende Senchubomgomo Yeluhlelo Lwetifundvo Nekuhlola (i-CAPS) sigcizelela kwemukelwa kwetinhlelo telwati lwendzabuko (i-IKS) Kutimfundvo Tetheknoloji (i-TE). Nanobe kunjalo, i-CAPS ayisho lutfo ngeMfundvo Yentfutfuko Lesimeme (iESD), ngako-ke yengeta kubothishela labangayicabangi i-ESD ekufundziseni kwabo. Ngako-ke, kulendzikimba, lolucwaningo luhlose kuhlola tindlela letingatfutfukisa i-ESD ekufundziseni iTheknoloji, ikakhulukati ngekhatsi kwendzikimba yemdzabu. Kwamukela i-constructivist paradigm, lucwaningo lusebentise indlela yelucwaningo lwekhwalithi. Lucwaningo loluchazako lwakhetfwa njengalolufanele kulolucwaningo. Bothishela Labasiphohlongo (8) Besigaba Lesisetulu Setheknoloji kanye neMeluleki Wetifundvo (i-CSA) we-General Education and Training Band Esigodzini sase-Ehlanzeni, Esifundzeni saseMpumalanga bahlanganyele kulolucwaningo. Lokutfolakele kuvete kutsi, nanobe bothishela beTheknoloji bavisisa imicondvo ye-SD ne-ESD, basengakafundzisi iTheknoloji ngendlela letfutfukisa i-ESD. Kuhunyushwa kwe-CAPS macondzana nekusimama esifundvweni kubonwe njengensayeya. Lokutfolakele kuvete kutsi indlela iTheknoloji ifundziswa ngayo kubeka engcupheni i-IKS lebeyingahle isetjentiselwe kutfutfukisa i-ESD; ngako-ke, kufundziswa kweTheknoloji kusentiwa ngesiNshonalanga ngekwelizinga lelikhulu. Lokutfolakele kulolucwaningo kuphindze kwaveta kutsi kusebentisana nekubambisana, kanye netinhlangotsi letitsintsa i-social constructivist njenge-Community of Practices, Ubuntu, emasiko, nalokunye, kutawenta kube lula kufundziswa kwe-ESD eluhlelweni lwetifundvo lwe-TE. Ngako-ke, luhlaka lwekufaka i-ESD eluhlelweni lwetifundvo teTheknoloji esimweni semdzabu lwatfutfukiswa elucwaningweni. Lokutfolakele kunemitselela elucwaningweni lwesikhatsi lesitako ngekufakwa kwe-ESD eluhlelweni lwetifundvo lwe-TE, kanye nekutetayeta kubothishela beTheknoloji nebaphumelelisa beluhlelo lwetifundvo ekufundzisweni kwe-ESD kuTheknoloji.

Khonferentshe ya Ditshabakopano ya “Tikologo le Tlhabollo” e gateletse bohlokwa bja kgopolo ya tlhabollo ya go ya go ile (SD). Tlhabollo ya kgopolo ye e utolotse mathata a phethagatso dikolong. Setatamente sa Pholisi ya Kelo le Kharikhulamo (CAPS) se gatelela temogo ya mekgwa ya tsebo ya setlogo (IKS) ka go Thuto ya Theknolotsi (TE). Le ge go le bjalo, CAPS e homotse mo tabeng ya Thuto ya Tlhabollo ya go ya go ile (ESD), ka fao e tlaleletsa go barutisi bao ba sa naganego ka ESD mo go ruteng ga bona. Ka fao, mo seemong se, maikemisetso a nyakisiso ye e be e le go nyakisisa ditsela tseo di ka tswetsago pele ESD mo go ruteng Theknolotsi, kudukudu ka gare ga seemo sa setlogo. Ka go amogela mokgwa wa bokhonsetrakethibise (constructivist), nyakisiso e somisitse mokgwa wa nyakisiso wa khwalithethifi. Kheisesetati ya tlhaloso ye e hlalosago e ile ya kgethwa bjalo ka yeo e swanetsego nyakisiso. Barutisi ba seswai (8) ba Theknolotsi ya Kgato ya Godimo le Moeletsi wa Dithuto tsa Kharikhulamo (CSA) wa Sehlopha sa Thuto le Tlhahlo ya Kakaretso Seleteng sa Ehlanzeni, Profentsheng ya Mpumalanga ba tseere karolo nyakisisong ye. Dikutullo di utolotse gore, le ge barutisi ba Theknolotsi ba kwesisa dikgopolo tsa SD le ESD, ba sa dutse ba sa rute Theknolotsi ka tsela yeo e tswetsago pele ESD. Tlhathollo ya CAPS mabapi le go tswela pele mo tabeng ye e lemogilwe bjalo ka tlhohlo. Dikutullo di utolotse gore tsela yeo Theknolotsi e rutwago ka yona e bea IKS kotsing gape yeo e kago somiswa go tswetsa pele ESD; ka fao, Theknolotsi e sa ntse e rutwa ka mokgwa wa Bodikela bogolo bja yona. Dikutollo tsa nyakisiso ye di utolotse gape gore tirisano le mosomo wa sehlopha, gammogo le dikarolo tse di amanago le bokhonsetrakethibise bja leago go swana le Sehlopha sa go Abelana Tshedimoso (Community of Practice), Botho, setso, bjalobjalo, di tla nolofatsa go rutwa ga ESD ka kharikhulamong ya TE. Ka fao, tlhako ya go akaretsa ESD ka gare ga kharikhulamo ya Theknolotsi ka gare ga seemo sa setlogo e hlamilwe ka nyakisisong. Dikutullo di na le ditlamorago go dinyakisiso tsa ka moso ka ga go akaretswa ga ESD ka gare ga kharikhulamo ya TE, gammogo le go somiswa ke barutisi ba Theknolotsi le baphethagatsi ba kharikhulamo ka ga go ruta ga ESD ka go Theknolotsi.