Contemporary issues in African sciences and science education (SensePublishers, 2012)
In this careful articulation of science, the editors provide an intellectual marriage of Indigenous science and science education in the African context as a way of revising schooling and education. They define science broadly to include both the science of the natural/physical/biological and the u2018science of the socialu2019. It is noted that the current policy direction of African education continues to be a subject of intense intellectual discussion. Science education is very much at the heart of much current debates about reforming African schooling. Among the ways to counter-vision contemporary African education this book points to how we promote Indigenous science education to improve upon African science and technology development in general.
The book also notes a long-standing push to re-examine local cultural resource knowings in order to appreciate and understand the nature, content and context of Indigenous knowledge science as a starting foundation for promoting African science and technology studies in general. It is argued that these interests and concerns are not mutually exclusive of each other but as a matter of fact interwoven and interdependent. The breadth of coverage of the collection reflect papers in science, Indigeneity, identity and knowledge production and the possibilities of creating a truly African-centred education. It is argued that such extensive coverage will engage and excite readers on the path of what has been termed u2018African educational recoveryu2019.
While the book is careful in avoiding stale debates about the u2018Eurocentricity of Western scientific knowledgeu2019 and the positing of u2018Eurocentric scienceu2019 as the only science worthy of engagement, it nonetheless caution against constructing a binary between Indigenous/local science and knowledges and Western u2018scientificu2019 knowledge. After all, Western scientific knowledge is itself a form of local knowledge, born out of a particular social and historical context. Engaging science in a more global context will bring to the fore critical questions of how we create spaces for the study of Indigenous science knowledge in our schools. How is Indigenous science to be read, understood and theorized? And, how do educators gather/collect and interpret Indigenous science knowledges for the purposes of teaching young learners. These are critical questions for contemporary African education?
Introduction: Introduction to Contemporary Issues in African Science Education - Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw, George J. Sefa Dei and Kolawole Raheem -- - The Question of Indigenous Science and Science Education: A Look At The Current Literature - Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw, George J. Sefa Dei and Kolawole Raheem -- - Engaging Scientific Activities to Build Endogenous Science and Lay Foundation For The Improvement of Living Conditions in Africa - Wanja Gitari -- - Language Proficiency and Science Learning - A. Asabere-Ameyaw and S. J. Ayelsoma -- - Children's Indigenous Ideas and The Learning of Conventional Science - R. K. Akpanglo-Nartey, A. Asabere-Ameyaw, George. J. Sefa Dei and K. D. Taale -- - Science Student Teachers' Attitude Towards Improvisation - John K. Eminah, Kojo Taale and Kolawole Raheem -- - Beliefs About The Nature of Science Held By African Teachers in The Caribbean Diaspora - Dorian A. Barrow -- - Gazing Mathematics and Science Education in Ghana: Ye Asisi Yen (We Have Been Shortchanged!) - F. Ahia and E. Fredua-Kwarteng -- - Culture, Identity and Science in African Education: The Relevance of Local Cultural Resource Knowledge - George J. Sefa. Dei -- - Ethiopia Survives: Reintegrating Our Spirituality and Culture Into Our Own Science - Solomon Belay -- - Indigenous Conceptions of Civic Education: Reinventing The Past - Wangui Mburu -- - Achieving The Culture of Limited Aggression: The Role of Higher Education Institution - Asabere Ameyaw and V. Adzahlie-Mensah -- - Environmental Hazard Communication: Revisiting The Indigenous Methods to Meet The Challenges in Ghana - Mawuadem Koku Amedeker and Thomas Tachie Young -- - Conclusion: Re-Visioning Science and Indigenous Education in Africa - Akwasi Asabere-Ameyaw, George J. Sefa. Dei and Kolawole Raheem
Includes bibliographical references and index