As a tribute to the memory of the Patron of Brazilian Education, recognized worldwide as one of the greatest educators of this century, the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo – (PUC-SP)) created the Paulo Freire Cathedra in 1998.
Coordinated by Doctor Ana Maria Saul since 1999, the Cathedra goes much further than just paying tribute to a well-known personality. The space is dedicated to the development of post-graduate research and studies of Paulo Freire’s work, and of the practical-theoretical repercussions in education and related areas in Brazil and the rest of the world.
The Cathedra receives, preferentially, Masters and Doctorate students from the Education Program: Curriculum, from PUC-SP. The researchers carry out methodological studies of Freirean thought, to understand and re-invent it, without losing the essence of its principles. In this sense, the notion that “re-invention” could mean a departure from the original work and starting from scratch is rejected.
At the same time however, the practice takes “a critical stance in relation to those actions that reduce the philosophy and pedagogy of Paulo Freire to technical methods, many of which are marked by trends and the ‘brand’ of so called pedagogical innovation” ¹.
It is important to remember that Paulo Freire was a Professor and a researcher at PUC-SP, in the Education Program: Curriculum, for 17 years (1980-1997). Following the link, Memory, more can be read about his life and work.
Source ¹:
https://periodicos.ufpe.br/revistas/interritorios/article/view/5049/4327
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