John Bhurekeni, PhD graduate from the Environmental Learning Research Centre in the Faculty of Education, was recently awarded the South African Education Research Association best PhD award for 2023. 

The award was handed out during the gala dinner at the recent South African Education Research Association Conference hosted by the RU Faculty of Education.

John’s PhD focused on investigating and developing a socio-cultural Afrophilic orientation to Philosophy for Children. Using a community of inquiry approach in Sebakwe resettlement primary schools, John worked with children, teachers, parents and education officials to foster a critical and generative approach to mobilising heritage-based curriculum foundations in Zimbabwean primary schools.

His study developed a decolonial approach to Philosophy for Children that significantly expanded children’s critical reflexive thinking skills and teachers’ capability for creatively engaging heritage-based curriculum foundations in Zimbabwe.  Through this work, John also offers a subtle critique of rhetorical approaches to heritage-based curriculum foundations, arguing for situating these in the life-worlds of children and communities, at the same time mobilising higher levels of critical thinking and reflexivity amongst the learners.

To read more about this, access the full article here: https://www.ru.ac.za/elrc/latestnews/primary_school_teacher_wins_best_phd_award_.html