Gramsci and adult education

Abstract

Gramsci’s significance for education lies in two realms. First, his notion of hegemony provides a way of understanding in which informal educators function and it gives us the possibility of critique and transformation. His theory of organic intellectuals provides a more detailed place of adult education in his thought. The intellectuals have a crucial role in creating counter-hegemony. The second realm is in a wider context in which he discusses the traditional education and schooling and describes the education for the proletariat. This essay will focus on the importance of Gramsci’s thoughts on adult education. To do this, the essay firstly will deal with his philosophy and political thoughts which has a close relationship with his ideas on adult education. Then, this relationship and his theory of education and intellectuals will be elaborated.