Personal Reflections
The vantage point of my educational background and professional training. My first degree was in Education, specialising in History and an indigenous language (Setswana) with History and Education as majors. My honours majors were History of Education and Political Economy. After 1994, these courses were subject to contestation issues. My unpublished master’s degree special research project was on the “Relevance of oral tradition and testimony in the History curriculum”. A chapter from this project culminated in a chapter, “Ziphora Moichela investigates Schweizer-Reneke”, which contributed to the book for teachers and student teachers titled, Teachers, transform history: Doing history – The Teacher as Researcher, editor by Krige, Friedman, Akojee, Devine, Moichela and Greybe (1997, pp. 1–72). This research convinced me that Africans of indigenous origin in this case DO also have a history that must be known, narrated, recognised and acknowledged in both the curricula and the school textbooks.
Dr Keikantsemang Ziphora Moichela, a distinguished senior lecturer at the University of South Africa's Open and Distance Learning (ODeL) institute, specializes in African Philosophy and Indigenous Knowledge Systems. With an illustrious 42-year teaching career, 23 of which were dedicated to higher education, Ziphora's expertise lies in the domains of the History of Education and Inclusive Education.
Her scholarly focus centres on fostering inclusivity for learners with disabilities, aligning with the pursuit of Agenda 2063. Ziphora advocates the imperative principle that "no child should be left behind," particularly during challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic. Her academic contributions extend to examining the relevance of African theories in education, transforming history teaching, integrating Indigenous Knowledge Systems into Basic Education, and promoting mother tongue usage in ODeL.
Committed to community engagement, Ziphora addresses critical issues in education, gender mainstreaming in theology, and social justice. Guided by her daughters, Lefika and Mamodise, who serve as both inspiration and advisors, she remains attuned to advancements in technology, integrating them into her educational endeavours as a "baby boomer."
In her leisure, Ziphora cultivates her intellectual and artistic pursuits. She engages in gospel singing, assumes leadership roles in church activities, and contributes to public discourse through eloquent speaking engagements. Beyond intellectual pursuits, she values insightful debates with her daughters on topics ranging from education, religion, and politics to global issues. Concurrently, she dedicates time to honing her musical skills, particularly in playing the guitar.