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A reflection on ‘being’ ‘Fijian’ and ‘belonging’ to Fiji: conceptualizing a value-theory approach to citizenship education

Koya, Cresantia F. (2011) A reflection on ‘being’ ‘Fijian’ and ‘belonging’ to Fiji: conceptualizing a value-theory approach to citizenship education. Pacific-Asian Education, 23 (2). pp. 77-88. ISSN 1019-8725

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Abstract

Education in the 21st century is marked by the vast influence of globalization and the drive for international comparability. In Fiji, as in the rest of the Pacific, this is no different. Education systems in the Pacific islands are characteristically informed and influenced by external push and pull factors which are reflective of colonial legacies, as well as current donor dependency and the agendas that these dictate. This educational reality may be seen as a crisis of relevance that has been well documented by Pacific scholars. This paper presents the argument that the issue of what it means to ‘be’ Fijian and to ‘belong’ to Fiji is a wider socio-cultural/historical debate that has not been adequately dialogued. This dialogue is critical if citizenship education is intended to contribute to participatory citizenship and towards conscientization of national identity for social cohesion. It is further argued that a holistic curriculum package would enable students to learn through problem-solving the ability to bring about change in their own lives and in their communities.

Item Type: Journal Article
Subjects: L Education > L Education (General)
L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB2361 Curriculum
Divisions: Faculty of Arts, Law and Education (FALE) > School of Education
Depositing User: Ms Shalni Sanjana
Date Deposited: 01 Jun 2011 07:42
Last Modified: 11 Jul 2012 04:47
URI: http://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/4634
UNSPECIFIED

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