EXPLORING CARING AS A PRINCIPLE OF UBUNTU IN SETSWANA DRAMA TEXT

 

Bridget Mangwegape

Mrs., Central University of Technology, Free State, South Africa, Email: bmangwegape@ cut.ac.za

 

Abstract

While caring is regarded as a principle in enhancing the quality of teaching and learning, it is also a practice fraught with moral and ethical issues and considerations. An analysis is made of the prescribed drama text in relation to caring as a fundamental principle of Ubuntu/Botho. The paper explores the characters as actors in the development of theme and conflict in a drama Setswana text, in relation to caring being the key figure for the success or failure of the philosophy of Ubuntu/Botho. The position of the lecturer (researcher) as a mediator between policies and diverse, students are explored in the light of moral and ethical consideration. Based on the notions of ethical caring and caring about, in the drama text ‘Ga ba na batsadi’ (Orphans) lost their parents because of HIV. Furthermore, the researcher, using the drama text as a pedagogical strategy, has observed that students as young citizens, in a country with a history of unspeakable atrocities, human rights abuses, injustices, secrets, violence and imposed voicelessness, have emerged into the twenty-first century with another kind of voicelessness which HIV is. Students are therefore seemingly faced with feelings of same hopes and excitement, but feelings of loss, alienation and confusion. The article suggests that principles of Ubuntu/Botho be infused in caring practices – this process may provide a framework to embed and strengthen morality and ethics in South African Schools.

Keywords: caring as the principle of Ubuntu/Botho, morality, drama text, and education.


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CITATION: Abstracts & Proceedings of ADVED 2019- 5th International Conference on Advances in Education and Social Sciences, 21-23 October 2019- Istanbul, Turkey

ISBN: 978-605-82433-7-8