INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)
ISSN No. 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS | Volume IX Issue XI November 2025
Ahmad Nurulazam (2015) argues that teaching science in isolated contexts, disconnected from students’ realities,
fosters a sense of detachment, rendering science irrelevant, impractical, and distant from their lives. When
students fail to perceive themselves as part of science, it does not become part of their identity, leading to
diminished interest and reduced engagement with science in the future (Brickhouse, Lowery, & Schultz, 2000).
To cultivate deep and sustained engagement with science, it is essential to integrate students’ lived experiences,
cultural practices, and historical knowledge collectively conceptualized as Funds of Knowledge into science
instruction (Genzuk, 1999). Accordingly, this study seeks to explore the Funds of Knowledge embedded within
indigenous families in Betong, Sarawak and to analyse how this knowledge resources intersect with the scientific
concepts taught in formal schooling.
Funds of Knowledge in Education Perspective
The Funds of Knowledge approach emerged in Tucson, Arizona, in the late 1980s as a theory and method through
which teachers identify, recognize, and validate the knowledge, skills, resources, and strengths possessed by
families, and subsequently incorporate them into educational practices and pedagogy (Moll et al., 1990). For
example, Irma Olmedo (1997) documented numerous knowledge resources within extended Puerto Rican
families through an oral history narrated by a grandmother about the family’s migration experiences in the United
States. The pedagogical challenge lies in creating meaningful connections between curriculum and instruction
and the knowledge and skills identified during home visits (González et al., 1995). In the case described above,
Olmedo (1997) concluded by recommending the use of oral histories in the classroom.
Based on the Vygotsky theory which emphasizes the importance of sociocultural in shaping student development
and learning, highlighting the critical role of adults (parents, teachers, and peers) and communities where
interactions occur between learners and their environments (Kozulin et al., 2003). From this sociocultural
standpoint, students construct knowledge through communication and collaboration with peers and groups, and
their understanding evolves through critical thinking and shared meaning-making (Tal & Kedmi, 2006).
According to this view, when students engage in social discourse and activities around shared issues or tasks,
knowledge and understanding including scientific understanding are co-constructed. Thus, learning occurs
primarily through social interaction rather than individual cognitive processes
In specific cultural and socioeconomic contexts, science is practiced based on natural resources and
environmental conditions. However, many science textbooks worldwide either ignore cultural components or
restrict them to Western perspectives on the history of science (Forawi, 2015; Khaddour et al., 2017; Ideland,
2018). Indigenous worldviews on nature and scientific knowledge vary significantly across societies and
cultures. Indigenous knowledge often reflects a sacred respect for nature, rooted in the relationship and
responsibility of Indigenous communities toward the environment (Knudtson & Suzuki, 1992). Learning about
Indigenous knowledge can help students recognize the deep interconnection between humans and nature within
cultural frameworks, whether in their own environment or elsewhere.
In students’ real-world experiences, Indigenous culture and Western science may complement each other.
Introducing Indigenous knowledge into classrooms provides diverse cultural perspectives and enhances
interpretation of scientific concepts (Botha, 2012), making science more relevant for learners in multicultural
settings (de Beer & Whitlock, 2009). Furthermore, integrating Indigenous knowledge into school curricula can
foster positive experiences and attitudes toward science while preserving local cultural values (Kasanda et al.,
2005; de Beer & Whitlock, 2009; Ng’asike, 2011; Perin, 2011).
METHODOLOGY
Research design
This study employed a qualitative research approach using a case study design, which is appropriate for
exploring complex social phenomena within real-life contexts. A qualitative approach allows for an in-depth
understanding of participants’ experiences, perspectives, and cultural practices, aligning with the exploratory
nature of this research (Crawford & Irving, 2009). The case study design was selected to provide a holistic
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