What is the purpose of education?

Is it to memorize? Is it to regurgitate what you have memorized? Is it used for the purpose of application so we can continue with our existence? Sadly, this is exactly the case in most institutions of learning. Some would call this 'intellectual ignorance.'

According to Paolo Freire, education serves two purposes. It either domesticates or liberates.

Domestication simply means to take something away from its natural environment and place it in a controlling environment. Another word to use for domestication is 'taming.' Through this, there is a degree of control. Conversely, liberty is a condition which allows individuals to act according to their own will.

Therefore, the purpose of education is not to domesticate but to liberate. Domestication of education confines an individual to one realm of thinking. There is no room for creativity, neither is there encouragement for critical thinking. Through coercion we learn to accept someone else's point of view, instead of exploring our own. We become engrossed with memorization and regurgitation.

So if the purpose of education is to liberate, then liberate from what and from whom?
In ancient Greece, Socrates argued that education was about drawing out what was already within the student. Education comes from the Latin meaning "to lead out." Hence, education plays a key role in self-awareness and self-reflection. It allows one to become aware of one's own abilities, goals, aspirations, and even gaps. In a way, one becomes aware of his/her own oppression and seeks out avenues to eradicate this oppression. We liberate ourselves.

I can go on and on with this topic but I will stop here, for now. I am writing about this because I was recently inspired by a wonderful professor at the Aga Khan University, Karachi. Her style of teaching was similar to how I was taught at my University, which was quite liberating. During my university years we were given the freedom to explore various domains of learning whilst covering the major aspects of nursing. I never really appreciated this style of learning until I started to apply these principles regularly after graduation, both professionally and personally. It brings me great pleasure and pride to see AKU implementing the principles of 'popular education.' The educators at AKU are interested primarily in each student's intellectual journey by supporting their growth. Grades are not seen as ends. I am honored to be a recipient of this form of liberation, once again.