Deschooling society and open learning: gaining insights from Ivan Illich’s work

Ivan Illich’s Deschooling Society presented a radical critique of formal educational structures, emphasising their potential detriment to the fundamental ‘right to learn’, and the theory of Deschooling Society turned out to be his profound introduction to world academia. This paper examined the applicability of Illich’s educational ideas to Open and Distance Learning. A critical examination assessed the feasibility of Illich’s proposed alternatives, particularly learning webs, aimed at enhancing educational openness and flexibility. Without disregarding the pervasive dominant educational system, the paper asserts the enduring significance of Illich’s educational theory, affirming its relevance in the context of Open and Distance Learning. It advocates for the continued integration of his ideas into contemporary educational discourse.