Harnessing the power of education for social change

Abstract

It cannot be overthrown that South African education - basic and higher - plays a central role in generating constructive social impact. Global education is no exception to this endeavor given that each country’s education system is interlaced with the global standards and norms. In the same vein, it cannot be downplayed, that South Africa’s education has been characterized by colonial and apartheid structures that sought to advance social injustices, such as the exclusion of underprivileged communities, Black South Africans and indigenous languages, among many other determinants. In view of this fact, it remains consequential to recurrently re-visit this system in a bid to underline some of the intricacies that exist within it, while attempting to solve any identified challenges. Bearing this in mind, this article aims to harness the power of South African education in respect of social change; and illustrate how and why it remains a vehicle that can be regarded and utilized to create social change, cohesion and consciousness. Argumentative research technique is employed herein, while critical pedagogy as a theoretical framework is applied to advance the discussions of the article. The principal findings and discussions, among others, underscore that learners and students should be provisioned with an education system that contests and addresses contemporary social injustices, such as gender-based oppression, unemployment, poor healthcare system and fragile economy, among other challenges. In this way, this significant component of social and human existence becomes more inclusive and pertinent in contemporary terms. The closing remarks underscore the necessity to continue debating issues that pertain to education in an attempt to lucidly outline its constructive outcomes