Neoliberalism, Critical Pedagogy and Education

This volume examines the role of neoliberalism and its impact on education in South Asia. It contends that education is in a state of crisis across the world. This is reflected not only in the way the state has withdrawn to pave way for private capital but also in the manner in which knowledge and ways of understanding the world are being challenged by manipulation and adverse influences. A process of ‘factoryisation’ is underway as disciplining of human minds and redefinition of the purpose of human existence are being geared to fall in line with the needs of private capital.

The book brings together incisive contributions from India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Nepal to explore newer possibilities to deal with the educational crisis, and looks at a range of critical themes in education: pedagogy, teacher–learner relationship, teacher education, the state of the university, and policy.

Rich in content, critical and insightful, this book will be a valuable addition for scholars and researchers of education and education policy, sociology, public policy and South Asian Studies.

Ravi Kumar teaches in the Department of Sociology at South Asian University, New Delhi, India, and is associated with the Global Centre for Advanced Studies as part of its faculty. He was previously a Visiting Faculty member at Anglia Ruskin University and taught at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. Kumar’s recent works include Education, State and Market: Anatomy of Neoliberal Impact (2014), Social Movements: Transformative Shifts and Turning Points (2013) and Education and the Reproduction of Capital: Neoliberal Knowledge and Counterstrategies (2012). He is Associate Editor of the Society and Culture in South Asia and a member of the editorial collective of the Journal of Critical Education Policy Studies. He is also co-editor of the book series ‘Social Movements, Dissent and Transformative Action’ (Routledge).