Africentric Approaches to Education

Background

Learners of African descent indicate that they do not feel integrated in a meaningful way in the public education system (African Nova Scotian Affairs, 2017; Calliste, 1996; Halifax Regional School Board, 2003; Smith et al., 2005). Students often report that they feel that their teachers neither sufficiently understand African Nova Scotian culture nor have relevant training in African Canadian history, race relations, and cross-cultural understanding. As a result, most teachers and school administrators cannot appreciate the difficulties and enormous challenges African Canadian students face in the school system.

The 1994 Black Learners Advisory Committee Report on Education presents a holistic approach to the problems and concerns of Black learners and their parents and caregivers. The Report noted that the school curriculum provides little understanding of Black history, and highlighted how underrepresentation of Black teachers/administrators, negative portrayal of Africa, absence of Black and African Canadian history in the curriculum, racial discrimination, and anti- Black racism has played a major part in denying Black learners equal opportunity in education.

Workshop Description

Using an Africentric approach, this workshop introduces participants to the significant barriers, challenges, and systemic structures that Black learners face in the education system. The workshop provides an overview of Africentric worldview as it relates to education, and critically examines ways of integrating and applying Africentric approaches to the school curriculum.

In this workshop participants, will have an opportunity to identify and define relevant concepts with respect to Africentric education. The concepts of Anti-Black racism, anti-racist education, and Africentic perspectives are used to explore issues related to education for Black learners. Participants will develop an understanding of the pertinence and significance of an Africentric education in Canada. The workshop will conclude with a discussion of opportunities for improvement. This is an interactive workshop with opportunities for reflection and engagement.