ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.
Listen "2: The Hidden Curriculum"
Episode Synopsis
In this thought-provoking solo episode, Bulelani Marwanqana unpacks one of the most overlooked but powerful forces in education: the hidden curriculum.
While the formal curriculum focuses on subjects and learning outcomes, the hidden curriculum is the unwritten and unspoken set of lessons that students absorb through everyday school life—through routines, expectations, discipline practices, and even body language.
Through real-life examples and critical reflection, Bulelani explores:
What the hidden curriculum is
Where it shows up in classrooms and schools
The unintended messages students internalize
How it shapes identity, self-worth, and future aspirations
Practical ways educators can reflect, respond, and reshape it for equity and inclusion
This episode challenges teachers, school leaders, and education stakeholders to look beyond lesson plans and consider what students are really learning—even when no one is teaching it directly.
Key Takeaways:
The hidden curriculum is always teaching—often silently.
School culture, routines, and teacher behavior all contribute to this hidden learning.
Without awareness, the hidden curriculum can reinforce bias, inequality, or exclusion.
With intentionality, it can be transformed into a powerful tool for belonging, confidence, and student voice.
Who Should Listen:
Teachers and school administrators
Education students and researchers
Parents curious about school culture
Anyone interested in educational equity and reflective teaching practice
Listen now and reflect on what’s being taught between the lines.
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help grow this reflective classroom community.
Connect with Bulelani on social media for more insights and behind-the-scenes reflections.
For voice Suggestions and Comments, WhatsApp: +27710667686
While the formal curriculum focuses on subjects and learning outcomes, the hidden curriculum is the unwritten and unspoken set of lessons that students absorb through everyday school life—through routines, expectations, discipline practices, and even body language.
Through real-life examples and critical reflection, Bulelani explores:
What the hidden curriculum is
Where it shows up in classrooms and schools
The unintended messages students internalize
How it shapes identity, self-worth, and future aspirations
Practical ways educators can reflect, respond, and reshape it for equity and inclusion
This episode challenges teachers, school leaders, and education stakeholders to look beyond lesson plans and consider what students are really learning—even when no one is teaching it directly.
Key Takeaways:
The hidden curriculum is always teaching—often silently.
School culture, routines, and teacher behavior all contribute to this hidden learning.
Without awareness, the hidden curriculum can reinforce bias, inequality, or exclusion.
With intentionality, it can be transformed into a powerful tool for belonging, confidence, and student voice.
Who Should Listen:
Teachers and school administrators
Education students and researchers
Parents curious about school culture
Anyone interested in educational equity and reflective teaching practice
Listen now and reflect on what’s being taught between the lines.
Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the podcast to help grow this reflective classroom community.
Connect with Bulelani on social media for more insights and behind-the-scenes reflections.
For voice Suggestions and Comments, WhatsApp: +27710667686
More episodes of the podcast Talking Classrooms
37: From Rejection to Global Recognition: Building an Online Teaching Empire with Marble Nyahela
05/12/2025
33: Failure, Forgetfulness, and Faith: What the Classroom Never Taught Me About Resilience
07/11/2025
30: The Realities, Causes, and Consequences of School Underfunding — and Pathways Toward Equity
25/10/2025
29: Artificial Intelligence in Academics
03/10/2025
In God we trust