Decolonising the curriculum: Practitioner perspectives from East African universities

Abstract

This study examines how academics in three East African universities interpret and operationalise curriculum decolonisation. Drawing on 42 semi-structured interviews and document analysis, we identify three competing framings — epistemic restoration, contextual relevance, and institutional reform — and trace how each shapes pedagogical practice. We argue that effective decolonisation requires institutional commitments that move beyond symbolic gestures toward substantive curriculum transformation.