Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za

3-minute read
17 May 2023 | 14:50 CAT

Photo credit: Entrepreneur

Most philosophers of education or philosophically inclined scholars of education in the past century and a half would agree with the claim that, ideally, education should be the practice of freedom. That is, it ought to cultivate the ability to decide how we want to shape our lives intelligently. This is according to Professor Pedro Tabenaky, Director of the Allan Gray Centre for Leadership Ethics at Rhodes University.

Professor Pedro Tabenaky Speaks to Radio Islam International on the need for a re-think of how students approach the objective of studying at university.

While the view between philosophers and policymakers may differ, Prof Tabenaky said the history of philosophy includes contestation and opposing current education and practices of the day and proposing something different.

“Following the influential philosopher of education and educational theorists of the 20th century: the American John Dewey in particular have argued that education is the practice of freedom, which has not been taken seriously in the education sector,” he says.

According to Prof Tabenaky, the issue impacts specific outcomes and further plays a role in some of the challenges faced in the education industry today. He added that if all forms of education systems took the idea seriously, the world would be in a very different place today.

Meanwhile, in a survey conducted by Prof Tabenaky, his findings strongly suggest that students only understand why they’re in University if it’s a means to earn an income eventually.

He said the aim of students should recognise education as a practice of freedom as it is in students’ interest to want to study. Students need to understand how education will benefit them in any way other than the purely materialistic income-generating possibilities that education offers.

“A deep tragedy, there is a lot of research that indicates students are motivated by the desire for income alone who will tend to be less happy professionals, generally. It is not the right frame of mind to engage in activities,” he says.

Listen to the full interview on Your World Today with Mufti Yusuf Moosagie.