Integrating Indigenous Knowledge to Sustainable Development: Philosophical Reflection on the Roles of Higher Education in Ethiopia

Abstract

Indigenous Knowledge (IK) is the accumulative wisdom of the people by which social problems are solved,mysteries and riddles of nature are revealed, social interactions and relations are handled and meaning of life isexplained. There are exemplary IKSs in Ethiopia that can play prominent roles in enhancing just social order,environmental protection, humanity, public rationality and sustainable development. Lessons can be taken fromclassical Ethiopian Philosophy texts, folk wisdoms e.g., Gadaa System, Konso Terracing, Rayan Traditional Park(Sera), traditional litigation and arbitration, Ge’ez Qine and the like. Though IKSs can play essential roles forsolving local and global problem, the pedagogy and curricula of HE in Ethiopia which is predominantlyWestern, gives little or no attention to IKSs and most scholars overlooked these exemplary wisdoms. As a response to this problem, this article is a philosophical reflection on the philosophy of HE in Ethiopia usingqualitative research method. The general objective is to call for attention of scholars and policy makers toentertain IKSs to solve pressing human problems in Ethiopia. It is argued that HE in Ethiopia should be ahermeneutic and an intercultural enterprise where learners and educators actively take part in the amalgamationof IK with modern science and technology to produce knowledge that can play a quintessential role forcontemporary global and local problems. Scholars are recommended to dig out exemplary IKSs in the culturalalcoves of Ethiopia for the flourishment of human wisdom; and policy makers should consult the findings ofscholars.