UA, South African Researchers to Speak at Indigenous Education Symposium

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — National and international education researchers will discuss the importance and impact of indigenous education at the “Symposium on Indigenous Education: Philosophies and Practices” Wednesday, April 6, at The University of Alabama.

The event, hosted by UA’s College of Education, will be held at Shelby Hall, room 1092. The symposium begins at 5 p.m. and is open and free to the public.

Drs. Chris Reddy and Lesley Le Grange, professors at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, will be among the presenters. Le Grange’s discussion will address the integration of “Ubuntu,” an indigenous philosophy of kindness in South Africa, into education practices, like curriculum and instruction, to make public education more relevant to the population.

Dr. John Petrovic, professor of educational leadership and foundations of education at UA, will discuss “Heritage Language Education in the U.S.” at the symposium. He said that while the study of indigenous education is an ongoing field, particularly Afro-centric education in the United States, the study of international philosophies and how they blend has emerged.

“The international comparative aspect of it, which is what we’re trying to address with this symposium, that’s somewhat newer,” said Petrovic, who helped establish the symposium this year. “It’s about looking at these philosophies across different countries and how they can not only affect education in a particular country, but also affect and influence one another broadly.”

Other symposium speakers will include: Dr. Joyce King, professor, Georgia State University; Dr. Scott Pratt, professor, University of Oregon; Xingping Zhang, dean, Nanjing Normal University; and Dr. Jinping Sun, professor, University of Alabama. Both Sun and Zhang will discuss “Transformational Leadership in Quality Schools in China.”