What is Western Knowledge

This chapter raises the need to consider the indigenous perspective in Technology Education. The cultural aspect that undergirds indigenous technology is prominent in the discussion to abase thesis of the chapter. The author confronts the dominance of western knowledge in the subject, revisits the definition of Technology, explores indigenous technologies in South Africa, and factors in the indigenous perspective in the subject of Technology Education. Scholars and practitioners (teachers) should begin to appreciate the alternative forms of knowledge, which the subject of Technology Education presents the opportunity to accommodate. The consideration to integrate the indigenous perspective will facilitate the reconceptualisation of the subject and its teaching. Indigenous learners cannot afford not to be taught the technologies existent in their communities. Non-indigenous learners, too, cannot afford to be naïve of alternative perspectives of technology. Additionally, scholars and researchers have a scholarly mandate to discourse about alternative perspectives.