Decolonising the curriculum: a case study

This case study was written by Michelle Mangal, The Black Curriculum. As you read this case study, reflect on how some of the principles might be applied to your own school’s curriculum.   ‘Decolonisation can be conceptualised as a mental process of changing beliefs and thought processes, rejecting a dominant belief of how the world functions and replacing it with an alternative.’ (Deschner and Hurst 2018)   Classrooms across the UK are full of students from different countries, races, and cultures. Many curriculums do not reflect this rich diversity, instead focusing on Western examples of history, of writing, of art, maintaining an outmoded Eurocentric curriculum. We need a fair and full display of history reflected in our teachings that mirrors the racial and cultural composition of modern Britain. When they fail to do this, curricula fall short of engaging and inspiring the diverse student bodies they aim to educate. Decolonisation within education can empo