Freire, Paulo Reglus Neves

Abstract

Freire, Paulo Reglus Neves (1921-1997) has achieved iconic status among educators and a whole range of cultural workers. Born in Recife (Pernambuco, N-E Brazil), Paulo Freire dedicated the best part of his life to combating social injustices. He suffered imprisonment and exile for his efforts in planning what was perceived as being a „subversive‟ approach to literacy in Brazil in the early sixties. He moved briefly to Bolivia and then to Chile where he was engaged in an educational programme connected with the agrarian reform and later the USA where his Pedagogy of the Oppressed was published in English translation. He eventually went to Geneva where he worked for the World Council of Churches. He was frequently called upon by revolutionary governments, such as those in Guinea Bissau and Nicaragua, to assist them in developing and evaluating educational projects. He also used his sixteen year exile to work with different groups in Europe. Following his return to Brazil, he engaged in municipal educational administration in São Paulo. Many of his works were translated into English and other languages.