Education in Zimbabwe, today and tomorrow: the case for unhuist/ubuntuist institutions of education in Zimbabwe

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Periodical article

Title:	Education in Zimbabwe, today and tomorrow: the case for unhuist/ubuntuist institutions of education in Zimbabwe
Author:	Makuvaza, Ngoni
Year:	1996
Periodical:	Zimbabwe Journal of Educational Research (ISSN 1013-3445)
Volume:	8
Issue:	3
Period:	November
Pages:	255-266
Language:	English
Notes:	biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:	Zimbabwe Southern Africa
Subjects:	educational philosophy educational policy education educational systems Educational institutions crime Professional employees
Abstract:	White collar crime or misconduct by professionals, the so-called educated of Zimbabwe, notably bribery and corruption, is on the increase. Addressing this problem requires critical reflection on the philosophy underlying education in Zimbabwe. The author contends that Zimbabwe's educational system is rooted in a foreign theoretical base which fails to produce professionals with 'unhu' (Shona) or 'ubuntu' (Ndebele), that is personhood derived from one's historicity and rootedness in an ongoing human community, based on the indigenous philosophy of life. The dilemma of the so-called educated professional emanates from the fact that he/she is both Western and African but remains an outsider to both worlds. The author therefore proposes that education and training be based on an 'unhuist'/'ubuntuist' philosophy, fused with skills and knowledge acquisition from the West, resulting in a wholesomely educated professional who will not indulge in practices which lack 'unhu'/'ubuntu'. Bibliogr., sum.