Reconsider deschooling: Alternative towards more accessible and inclusive education

Abstract

This essay discusses deschooling concept as an alternative learning delivery method to achieve education for all. We argue that the deschooling idea, first introduced by Illich before the era of the Internet, has become relevant in relation to today's education challenges. What we mean by deschooling in this paper is not the abolishment of the schooling system. Instead, the recall of deschooling discourse aims to provide more recognition of learning activities outside of the school setting. The learning webs, a key enabler in deschooling discourse, are realistic when implemented with the help of 21 st century's technology. The argument in this paper utilised an in-depth literature review and discourse analysis in the deschooling debate. To strengthen our argument, we have provided three case studies in the form of informal learning, non-formal learning and e-learning related to deschooling initiatives. Based on our findings, we can conclude that deschooling society is certainly viable. The principles used in deschooling, such as flexibility, inclusiveness, adaptability and personalisation, are alternatives for everyone to have freedom of access, use, copy, and modify learning resources. We also found that there may be possible challenges, including the limitation of self-directed learning, the pitfall of institutionalised capital and a lack of social interaction. AbstrakEsai ini mendiskusikan konsep deschooling sebagai alternatif dalam upaya mencapai pendidikan untuk semua. Kami menilai konsep deschooling yang digagas oleh Illich di era sebelum internet layak kembali untuk didiskusikan. Perlu dicatat bahwa deschooling yang kami gunakan sebagai landasan teori bukanlah untuk meniadakan sistem sekolah, namun sebagai gagasan untuk memberikan rekognisi kepada lingkungan pembelajaran di luar sekolah formal. Salah satu aspek dalam gagasan deschooling adalah learning webs yang sangat realistik untuk diimplementasikan dengan bantuan teknologi abad 21. Penjabaran argumen pada studi ini diolah melalui serangkaian studi literatur dan analisis diskursus mendalam pada pembahasan deschooling. Untuk memperkuat argumen, kami menyediakan tiga studi kasus terkait inisiatif deschooling di Indonesia dalam bentuk pembelajaran informal, pembelajaran non-formal dan pembelajaran elektronik. Kami menyimpulkan bahwa konsep deschooling sangat mungkin untuk dilaksanakan. Prinsip-prinsip yang digunakan dalam deschooling seperti fleksibilitas, inklusivitas, kemampuan adaptasi dan personalisasi adalah hal-hal yang dapat memberikan setiap orang kebebasan untuk dapat mengakses, menggunakan, memperbanyak, dan memodifikasi sumber pembelajaran. Kami juga menemukan adanya tantangan yang mungkin muncul dalam realisasi deschooling, yaitu limitasi dari pembelajaran mandiri, kelemahan dari kapital yang dilembagakan dan kurangnya interaksi sosial. Kata kunci: pendidikan untuk semua; deschooling; sains terbuka; sekolah informal; sekolah non-formal; pembelajaran elektronik; institusionalisme; pendidikan inklusif 256 257

Contributions of Ivan Illich to Education in a Digital Society

“…Alienation is one of these problems (Serpa, 2019). As maintained by Soegiono, Anis, & Maulida, (2018), "The idea of deschooling would enable everyone to use the self-directed learning method as a tool for learning. […] These cognitive skills include the ability to gather and process information, as information overload is a common problem faced by self-directed learners.…”

“…The school institution, seen as a codified and socially accepted way of responding to social needs (Serpa, 2018;Soegiono, Anis, & Maulida, 2018) in the form of legitimate massive schooling, is undergoing a crisis (Gil & Paniagua, 2016). Contrary to what it may seem, the School is a constructed reality and, thus, it is not inevitable (Queiroz, 2001).…”