Description
ABSTRACT
Purpose: The movement for the decolonisation of higher education in the Global South is gaining momentum as it seeks to address the lingering effects of colonialism, particularly through the lens of Eurocentric curricula and teaching methods that often overlook local knowledge. In response, universities are developing educational materials more relevant to students in the Global South and increasingly incorporating local languages into their programmes. However, they face significant challenges, including entrenched colonial structures, limited resources, and the pressures of globalisation.
Design/Methodology/Approach: By reviewing relevant literature and analysing students’ debates and discussions on YouTube and TikTok, this article examines the diverse perceptions and understandings of decolonisation among students in institutions of higher learning in South Africa.
Findings: The findings indicate that higher education students in South Africa show a high level of interest in the decolonisation of education. However, this interest is often accompanied by a fragmented or underdeveloped understanding of what decolonisation entails. This conceptual disunity can be attributed to the inherent complexity of the subject, inadequate curricular engagement with decolonial theory, and institutional inertia. The study further demonstrates that the literature and student voices strongly support the assertion that decolonisation in Africa is a deeply complex process, particularly when racialised academic content and praxis are considered.
Originality/Value: Students are vital actors in the decolonial movement; however, their efforts are complicated by conceptual ambiguities, institutional inertia, and global academic pressures. Decolonisation must therefore move beyond tokenism to fundamentally reconfigure the structures, values, and content of higher education. A truly decolonised university must be context sensitive, epistemically diverse, and socially just.
Keywords: Africa, curriculum transformation, decoloniality, decolonisation of education, YouTube, TikTok, Global South, South Africa.
