Decolonisation of life skills subject in the foundation phase through the use of Xitsonga folktales

Abstract

Folktales, which are oral stories passed down from one generation to the next by an older person are not only folktales told for pleasure, but also for other objectives such as the transmission of moral values, life skills, indigenous knowledge and cultural gems, educational purposes, and child rearing. To date, most South African schools use English as Language of Learning and Teaching (LoLT) and a minority of schools use Afrikaans as LoLT with the view to teaching the subject Life Skills in the Foundation Phase. Life skills remains rooted in Western knowledge. Using a qualitative approach, the study examines the decolonisation of Life Skills in the Foundation Phase using Xitsonga folktales. The data of the study is collected from selected published Xitsonga folktales. A total of fifteen ffolktales were sampled and analysed. This research highlights the need for the decolonisation of the subject Life Skills using Xitsonga folktales, as well as the benefits thereof. This research recommends the promotion of indigenous knowledge and curriculum transformation in the Foundation Phase in South African schools, as well as the promotion of inclusiveness of Xitsonga mother tongue.

Mitsheketso i swirungululwana leswi khale na khale a swi runguleleriwa switukulwana hi lavakulu ku nga ri hi xikongomelo xo xuxa ntsena, kambe ku ri ku dyondzisa vana mahanyelo lamenene, dyondzo ya vutshila bya vutomi, dyondzo ya rixaka, dyondzo ya ndhavuko xikan’we ni ku kurisa vana hindlela leyinene. Eka masiku ya namutlha, swikolo swo tala swi tirhisa ririmi ra Xinghezi tanihi rirmi ro dyondzisa no dyondza naswona swikolo switsongo swona swi dyondzisa hi ririmi ra Xibunu eka dyondzo ya xiyenge xa masungulo. Dyondzo ya Vutshila bya vutomi eswikolweni ya ha ya emahlweweni yi namarhale madyondziselo ya Xiyuropa. Hi ku tirhisa endlelo ra nkoka, ndzavisiso lowu wu kambisisa ku susiwa ka vukoloni eka dyondzo ya Swikili swa Vutomi eka Xiyenge xa Masungulo hi ku tirhisa mitsheketo ya Xitsonga. Vuxokoxoko bya ndzavisiso lowu byi hlengeletiwile eka mitsheketo yo hambanahambana ya Xitsonga leyi kandziyisiweke malembendzhaku. Ku tekiwe mitsheketo ya 15 leyi nga xopaxopiwa hi vurhon’wana. Ndzavisiso lowu wu kombisa xilaveko xa ku herisa ku tirhisiwa ka vukoloni hi ku tirhisa mitsheketo ya Xitsonga, xikan'we ni mivuyelo ya kona. Ndzavisiso lowu wu bumabumela ku tlakusa vutivi bya vanhu va Afrika na ku cinca ka kharikhulamu eka Xiyenge xa Masungulo eswikolweni swa Afrika-Dzonga.