Pedagogy of the Oppressed

Pedagogy of the Oppressed is a groundbreaking text of educational philosophy and social reform, now featured in Penguin Modern Classics.

This seminal text argues that the perceived passivity of the poor is the direct result of economic, social, and political domination. The book suggests that in some countries, the oppressors employ the 'piggy bank' system, treating students as passive, empty vessels, to preserve their authority and maintain a culture of silence.

Through cooperation and dialogue, Freire proposes that the authoritarian teacher-pupil model can be replaced with critical thinking, enabling the student to become a co-creator of knowledge. Crucial to Freire's argument is the belief that every human being, no matter how impoverished or illiterate, can develop an awareness of self and the right to be heard.