The school and its role in the reproduction of Ideological and Cultural Hegemony

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71112/9rhdk879

Keywords:

decolonization, education, Epistemology, hegemony, curriculum, critical pedagogy

Abstract

This article analyzes the role of schooling in the reproduction of ideological and cultural hegemony from a critical and decolonial perspective. It examines how the selection and legitimation of particular forms of knowledge, pedagogical practices, and curricula may contribute to reproducing historical relations of inequality and subordination. Based on a theoretical-documentary analysis of literature on coloniality, critical pedagogy, epistemic justice, interculturality, and Indigenous knowledge, the study identifies tensions between the reproductive function of schooling and its emancipatory potential. The findings indicate that decolonizing education requires reviewing curricular structures, recognizing epistemological plurality, strengthening community participation, and transforming pedagogical practices. The article concludes that schools can become spaces for social transformation when they integrate critical thinking, cultural relevance, dialogue among knowledges, and meaningful community participation.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Aguilar Ramírez, E. A., & Gómez Ordóñez, L. H. (2018). Educación o mercancía: La colonialidad del saber y la práctica educativa desde América Latina. *Revista PRAXIS*, (77), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.15359/praxis.77.5

Amaro, F. R. (2022). Pedagogias libertárias latino-americanas: Da pedagogia do oprimido à pedagogia decolonial. *Revista Inter-Ação, 47*(1), 126–138. https://doi.org/10.5216/ia.v47i1.70996

Aman, R. (2017). Colonial differences in intercultural education: On interculturality in the Andes and the decolonization of intercultural dialogue. *Comparative Education Review, 61*(S1), S103–S120. https://doi.org/10.1086/690459

Anka, A. (2024). Using the concept of epistemic injustice and cultural humility for understanding why and how social work curricular might be decolonized. *Social Work Education, 43*(9), 2880–2896. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2023.2299245

Barnhardt, R., & Kawagley, A. O. (2005). Indigenous knowledge systems and Alaska Native ways of knowing. *Anthropology & Education Quarterly, 36*(1), 8–23. https://doi.org/10.1525/aeq.2005.36.1.008

Biermann, S., & Townsend-Cross, M. (2008). Indigenous pedagogy as a force for change. *The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 37*(S1), 146–154. https://doi.org/10.1375/S132601110000048X

Bishop, M., Vass, G., & Thompson, K. (2021). Decolonising schooling practices through relationality and reciprocity: Embedding local Aboriginal perspectives in the classroom. *Pedagogy, Culture & Society, 29*(2), 193–211. https://doi.org/10.1080/14681366.2019.1704844

Brust, C. M., & Taylor, R. M. (2023). Resisting epistemic injustice: The responsibilities of college educators at historically and predominantly White institutions. *Educational Theory, 73*, 551–571. https://doi.org/10.1111/edth.12593

Cronqvist, M. (2025). Epistemic justice: A twofold mission for human rights and social sustainability in teacher education. *Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research*. https://doi.org/10.1080/00313831.2025.2550260

Dunne, G. (2023). Epistemic injustice in education. *Educational Philosophy and Theory, 55*(3), 285–289. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131857.2022.2139238

Edwards, K. T., & Shahjahan, R. A. (2021). Navigating student resistance towards decolonizing curriculum and pedagogy (DCP): A temporal proposal. *Teaching in Higher Education, 26*(7–8), 1122–1129. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2021.1928063

García-Arias, J., Corbetta, S., & Baronnet, B. (2023). Decolonizing education in Latin America: Critical environmental and intercultural education as an indigenous pluriversal alternative. *British Journal of Sociology of Education, 44*(8), 1394–1412. https://doi.org/10.1080/01425692.2023.2234088

Harrison, N., & Greenfield, M. (2011). Relationship to place: Positioning Aboriginal knowledge and perspectives in classroom pedagogies. *Critical Studies in Education, 52*(1), 65–76. https://doi.org/10.1080/17508487.2011.536513

Herrera Farfán, N. A. (2024). La praxis pedagógica de Orlando Fals Borda. Diálogos entre la Educación Popular y la Investigación–Acción Participativa. *Cambios y Permanencias, 15*(2), 91–104. https://doi.org/10.18273/cyp.v15n2-202408

Jin, H., Jiao, S., Ma, X., & Xia, Y. (2024). Cultural capital as a predictor of school success: Evidence and gender differences in Chinese middle schools. *Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 11*, 858. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-024-03382-x

Le Grange, L. (2016). Decolonising the university curriculum. *South African Journal of Higher Education, 30*(2), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.20853/30-2-709

Lowe, K., Harrison, N., Tennent, C., Guenther, J., Vass, G., & Moodie, N. (2019). Factors affecting the development of school and Indigenous community engagement: A systematic review. *The Australian Educational Researcher, 46*(2), 253–271. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13384-019-00314-6

Lowe, K., Skrebneva, I., Burgess, C., Harrison, N., & Vass, G. (2021). Towards an Australian model of culturally nourishing schooling. *Journal of Curriculum Studies, 53*(4), 467–481. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220272.2020.1764111

McLeod, K., Thakchoe, S., Hunter, M. A., Vincent, K., Baltra-Ulloa, A. J., & MacDonald, A. (2020). Principles for a pedagogy of unlearning. *Reflective Practice, 21*(2), 183–197. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623943.2020.1730782

Mitchell, I., Keast, S., Panizzon, D., & Mitchell, J. (2017). Using ‘big ideas’ to enhance teaching and student learning. *Teachers and Teaching, 23*(5), 596–610. https://doi.org/10.1080/13540602.2016.1218328

Mota Neto, J. C. da. (2018). Toward a decolonial pedagogy in Latin America: Convergences between popular education and participatory action research. *Education Policy Analysis Archives, 26*, 84. https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.26.3424

Musgrove, N., & Wolfe, N. (2022). Aboriginal knowledge, the history classroom and the Australian university. *History of Education Review, 51*(2), 123–136. https://doi.org/10.1108/HER-04-2021-0010

Nikolaidis, A. C. (2023). Epistemic injustice in education: Exploring structural approaches, envisioning structural remedies. *Journal of Philosophy of Education, 57*(4–5), 842–861. https://doi.org/10.1093/jopedu/qhad074

Nunes, A. C., & de Andrade, J. M. (2024). The impact of cultural capital on school performance. *Frontiers in Education, 9*, 1389574. https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2024.1389574

Omodan, B. I. (2023). Unveiling epistemic injustice in education: A critical analysis of alternative approaches. *Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 8*(1), 100699. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2023.100699

Oliveira, S.-L. R. C., & Paim, E. A. (2019). Contando outra história da educação popular: Uma interlocução entre o pensamento de Paulo Freire e Orlando Fals Borda. *Roteiro, 44*(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.18593/r.v44i1.16988

Ortiz Castiblanco, C. C., & García Suárez, C. I. (2025). Caminar la enseñanza decolonial: Una propuesta metodológica para la transformación de las ciencias sociales escolares en América Latina. *Praxis Educativa, 29*(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.19137/praxiseducativa-2025-290120

Ortiz Ocaña, A. L., Arias López, M. I., & Pedrozo Conedo, Z. E. (2018). Pedagogía decolonial: Hacia la configuración de biopraxis pedagógicas decolonizantes. *Revista Ensayos Pedagógicos, 13*(2), 201–233. https://doi.org/10.15359/rep.13-2.10

Peralta, L. R., O’Connor, D., Cotton, W. G., & Bennie, A. (2016). Pre-service physical education teachers’ Indigenous knowledge, cultural competency and pedagogy: A service learning intervention. *Teaching Education, 27*(3), 248–266. https://doi.org/10.1080/10476210.2015.1113248

Quijano, A. (2007). Coloniality and modernity/rationality. *Cultural Studies, 21*(2–3), 168–178. https://doi.org/10.1080/09502380601164353

Shahjahan, R. A., Estera, A. L., Surla, K. L., & Edwards, K. T. (2022). “Decolonizing” curriculum and pedagogy: A comparative review across disciplines and global higher education contexts. *Review of Educational Research, 92*(1), 73–113. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543211042423

Silova, I., Millei, Z., & Piattoeva, N. (2017). Interrupting the coloniality of knowledge production in comparative education: Postsocialist and postcolonial dialogues after the Cold War. *Comparative Education Review, 61*(S1). https://doi.org/10.1086/690458

Silva, M. (2022). Educação afrocentrada como pedagogia decolonial no contexto educacional brasileiro. *Práxis Educativa, 17*, e19343. https://doi.org/10.5212/PraxEduc.v.17.19343.075

Stein, S., Andreotti, V. de O., & Suša, R. (2019). Beyond 2015, within the modern/colonial global imaginary? Global development and higher education. *Critical Studies in Education, 60*(3), 281–301. https://doi.org/10.1080/17508487.2016.1247737

Walsh, C. E. (2015). Decolonial pedagogies walking and asking: Notes to Paulo Freire from Abya Yala. *International Journal of Lifelong Education, 34*(1), 9–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/02601370.2014.991522

Walsh, C., Oliveira, L. F. de, & Candau, V. M. (2018). Coloniality and decolonial pedagogy: To think of other education. *Education Policy Analysis Archives, 26*, 83. https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.26.3874

Wesley-Nero, S., & Donley, K. (2024). Culturally and linguistically responsive pedagogy: Examining teachers’ conceptualizations of affirmative instructional practices for multilingual learners. *TESOL Journal, 15*, e881. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesj.881

Published

2026-09-03

Issue

Section

Education Sciences

How to Cite

Jiménez Muñoz, W. F. . (2026). The school and its role in the reproduction of Ideological and Cultural Hegemony. Multidisciplinary Journal Epistemology of the Sciences, 3(3), 2162-2175. https://doi.org/10.71112/9rhdk879