The notion of "ubuntu" and "communalism" is of great importance in an African educational discourse, as well as in African Philosophy of Education and in African philosophical discourse. "Ubuntu" is a philosophy that promotes the common good of society and includes humanness as an essential element of human growth. In African culture the community always comes first. The individual is born out of and into the community, therefore will always be part of the community. Interdependence, "communalism," sensitivity towards others and caring for others are all aspects of "ubuntu" as a philosophy of life (Le Roux, 2000, p. 43). The community and belonging to a community is part of the essence of traditional African life. Philosophy of life and Philosophy of Education, thus, go together, because a philosophy of life helps to identify the goals and purposes that a particular society holds dear. Humanness is very important in African philosophy in the sense of seeing human needs, interests and dignity as fundamental to human existence and therefore it will also be important in African Philosophy of Education (Letseka, 2000, p. 182). According to Letseka (2000, p. 186) nobody is born with "botho" or "ubuntu"--these are communally accepted and desirable ethical standards that a person acquires throughout his/her life and therefore education also plays a very important role in transferring the African philosophy of life.