Cultural Pedagogy: Teaching the Art of Baba Nyonya Beaded Shoes through Educational Management

A small piece of Malaysia’s Peranakan heritage, Baba Nyonya beaded shoes reflect a beautiful blend of culture, history and craftsmanship. This paper is a qualitative study that investigates Baba Nyonya beading as an avenue for cultural pedagogy within the dynamics of modern education in an era where heritage is observed through passive consumption rather than active practice. Cultural practices such as Baba Nyonya beaded footwear should be integrated into education systems, especially with the impact of globalization that is swallowing borders between communities and languages which require efforts to sustain cultural identities. This study explores the ways local artisans are experiencing the integration of this craft into classrooms prior to establishing their ethnographic links that may contribute toward cultural awareness, pride, and identity development. The results suggests that cultural pedagogy can help uphold traditional knowledge, promote cross-cultural understanding and root the students more strongly within their culture. Such practices, however, require further research to gain insight into their effect on the students learning cultural competencies and finding their place in an increasingly globalized world. The study encourages the persistence of traditional crafts in the academic syllabus as a way to preserve cultural treasures such as Baba Nyonya beaded shoes and passing it down through generations where it would continue enjoyed.