National Heroes: Teaching Symbols of Identity, Legitimacy and Oppression Through School Curriculums

In this episode, we explore the ways in which national heroes have been used in school history curriculums to create a sense of nationhood, to confer legitimacy to the state, and to contribute towards systems of oppression. We first look at the way Hong Kong created a separate school subject, Chinese History, which emphasised the character traits of important historical figures and the dynastic history of the country to protect and retain a sense of Chinese identity in the Islands. We then interview Musty Kamal on Muhammad Ali Jinnah and how his place as a national hero and the way Pakistan remembers him changes from person to person, particularly among those in power, to fit a certain narrative of the day. And finally, we delve into how the national story of the Voortrekkers and The Great Trek was taught in South African schools to uphold oppressive value systems in the era of apartheid.

 

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