Educational Theories and Practices from the Majority World

This work provides a healthy, comprehensive counterpoint to the ethnocentrism engrained in the widespread belief that scientific knowledge about education is typically western. Stressing that the western ‘minority’ perspective cannot hold true for the ‘majority’ of the world population situated outside Europe and North America, this edited volume explores traditional educational theories and practices developed in the majority world to study how they can improve modern schooling globally. Educational Theories and Practices from the Majority World probes the elements of culturally appropriate, quality schooling for various indigenous people in India, the Pacific and the Americas. One of the sections dwells on how to synergize the systems used in modern schools with the ones used in non-western formal schools linked to religious institutions, such as Koranic, Sanskrit, Buddhist and Vodoo Schools. Another section delves into educational policy issues in the context of globalization. This compilation brings together difficult-to-access theories and research by contributors from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, and South America. It is an invaluable resource for policy makers in education and for students, researchers and academicians studying education and anthropology.