Critical Pedagogy

Paulo Freire, the father of critical pedagogy born in Recife, Brazil on 19th sept 1921 in a traditional upper class family. He was a western philosopher, reformer and radical educationist. 

He believed in the philosophy of Scientific Revolutionary Humanism. 

His great works includes

★     Pedagogy of the Oppressed

★     Pedagogy of the Heart

★     Pedagogy of Hope

★     Education for critical consciousness

★     Education as practice of freedom

★     Cultural action for freedom

Died on 2nd May 1997

Freire worked for the liberation of the downtrodden and oppressed. His revolutionary pedagogical theory has influenced educational and social movements throughout the world. He contributed variety of educational concepts which ensures meaningful learning.

According to him, Education  is  a powerful tool for bring radical transformation for a more just society and critical pedagogy is the panacea for eradicating all social ills prevailing in the society.

Critical pedagogy

A philosophy of education and social movement that combines education with critical theory. Critical thinking for recognizing the energy and potential of each individual and empower them to make their full contribution in the process of building a new society in which all peoples satisfies their fundamental human needs (social equity)

           

●     Critical pedagogy considers how education can provide individual with the tools to better themselves and strengthen democracy to create a more egalitarian society .

●     Critical pedagogy enables the learner to become sensitive to the politics of representation of race, gender, class and other cultural differences in order to foster critical thinking and enhance democratization

●     Critical pedagogy is based on the presumption that all education is inherently political. It helps learners aware of critical conscious. Critical consciousness is the ability to critically perceive the causes of social, political and economic oppression and to take action against the oppressive elements of the society.

The important features of critical pedagogy are

●     Education for liberation

●     Education against domination

●     Against the “ Banking Concept of Education “

●     Against culture of silence

●     Education as a culture of freedom

●     Dialogue as a pedagogical  tool

●     Education for conscientization

●     Problem posing education

●     Egalitarian teacher student relation

●     Co-construction of knowledge.

●     Praxis as a synthesis of reflection and action

●     Social justice learning

Education for liberation - Critical pedagogy promotes collective action and continuing struggle on the part of the oppressed to liberate themselves from all forms of domination

Against the “ Banking Concept of Education “

Banking concept means teacher is regularly depositing knowledge in the empty mind of pupils, pouring knowledge into an empty head. Teacher is considered as authoritarian with all knowledge. Teacher talks, pupil passively absorbs. Knowledge is considered as readymade package of reliable information that must be passed from one person to another. Freire is against the banking concept of education. The vertical pattern of teaching learning process should be replaced by horizontal pattern ie egalitarian teacher student relation.

Break the culture of silence with dialogues and sustain a culture of freedom. Dialogues are co-operative activity involving mutual respect in which teacher and students learn together. Dialogue is a principle tool for problem posing method. Dialogical approach of learning favours open communication among learners and teachers and eradicates banking concept of education.

Education for conscientization- Knowing oneself, developing consciousness that is understood to have the power to transform reality. Learning to perceive social, political and economic contradictions and developing a critical awareness so that individual can take action against the oppressive elements of reality.

Problem posing approach

The facilitator provides a framework for thinking, active participation and generate creative ideas to consider a common problem and find solution. A series of questions are raised by facilitator. Participants are active in describing, analysing, suggesting, deciding and planning. Learners are actively involved in the social construction of knowledge.

Posters, plays, photographs,slides,songs, simulation games, role playing can be utilized to focus attention of everyone to the same problem. This links feelings to facts and highlights the social issues and ill practices. The facilitator asks a series of  questions related to the problem. They need to relate it to real life situations as this generates energy to act. The facilitator directs the group into the root cause of the problem and then challenge them to find solution.

Praxis as a synthesis of reflection and action

A cycle of reflection and action results in radical transformation. It is not simply action based on reflection. It is action which embodies qualities which include a commitment to human well being, a search for truth and respect for others. Praxis is word +work

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