Critical agency in the post-apartheid education system

Abstract

AbstractThis paper looks at critical agency in the South African education system. There has been aconsistent linking of critical thinking with critical agency under apartheid, and that this wasconstructed by a 'critical struggle' (Touraine, 1985) against apartheid domination.However, this changed significantly in the post-apartheid moment, where compliance withthe newly elected government is emphasised, and could be viewed in terms of 'positivestruggles' (Touraine, 1986). These, however, limit critical agency in the post-apartheidformation. There is, nonetheless, evidence of critical agency being enacted in thepost-apartheid education system. The importance of highlighting those forms of criticalagency is crucial in order to enhance social justice in the post-apartheid educational systemand society. This paper also links critical agency in the post-apartheid situation with thepostcolonial and postmodern conditions because such conditions affect the possibilities ofcritical agency not only in South Africa but more generally.