Critical pedagogy as a transformative framework in education

Drawing on theorists such as Freire, Giroux, McLaren, and others, this paper explores critical pedagogy as a transformative educational framework, how education can foster critical consciousness, dialogic learning, and how it integrates students' experiences into the curriculum. It analyzes the anatomy of power-coercion, persuasion, and authority—and how these dynamics shape classroom interactions and broader social relations. Critical pedagogy, as a set of practices for reflective, student-centered approaches, critiques traditional models that reinforce conformity and passive learning, and highlights the challenges of implementing critical pedagogy in Iran's centralized educational system. Despite these constraints, meaningful educational reform is possible through adopting authentic and localized content, engaging learners in critical dialogue in the classroom learning. Doing so, within cultural, political, and ethical contexts it can empower learners to actively participate in shaping a more equitable society.

کلیدواژه ها:

Critical Pedagogy ، Power Relations ، Educational Reform ، Teacher Empowerment ، ELT in Iran