Words of  the editor translated in English:

In our association ODRAZ (Community Sustainable Development), we have concluded that there is a great need for publications in Croatian language that deal with the education of trainers and contemporary approaches to adult education. In discussions with prominent experts, we have chosen Freire's book "Pedagogy of the Oppressed." This book will help educate trainers, students, and educators, the new generations in general, who will awaken awareness and, in a long-term process, transform citizens from passive to active participants in society, which is undoubtedly the goal of every democratic state. New, contemporary educational methods particularly aid in strengthening the self-awareness of marginalized groups (people with special needs, victims of violence, women)—both individuals and their communities—and in the long run, society as a whole.

Why this book specifically? Paulo Freire is one of the leading global educators. Through his controversial approach to literacy, he has encouraged the development of social and political consciousness among the poor in Third World countries. The author of "Pedagogy of the Oppressed" believes that ruling systems prefer people to be passive rather than active participants in society. Therefore, these systems support methods that hinder freedom of thought, understanding of everyday reality, and the ability to influence it, thereby preventing any kind of change. Freire argues that the existing long-standing education system is precisely one of these methods because it is based on imposing facts and does not allow the student to think and draw conclusions independently; instead, conclusions are imposed by the teachers. Hence, the existing education system suppresses conscientization and blocks creative and liberating social activity that leads to change. Consequently, masses worldwide are oppressed, impoverished, and disenfranchised. This is why Freire proposes a system that liberates the learner, i.e., education in which the student critically examines, thinks, and independently draws conclusions about numerous questions related to work, life, culture, faith, and knowledge.

Last year marked the 30th anniversary of the first American edition of this book, which has sold over 750,000 copies worldwide to date. With this translation, we wanted to contribute to this anniversary. Finally, a few acknowledgments. First and foremost, to Ivana Laginja, who suggested this book, and to our dear colleagues who supported our idea and provided recommendations: Prof. Jasminka Ledić, Prof. Marina Ajduković, and Mirjana Radaković. I also thank the Open Society Institute - Croatia, the Office for Associations of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare. Special thanks go to our collaborators Sanja Bingul, Anja Bastašić, and Vesna Kesić, whose dedicated work enabled the high-quality translation of this book, as the translation process was demanding and occasionally tiresome. I also express my gratitude to Dijana Vican, whose foreword will facilitate understanding of Freire's work and way of thinking.

I hope that this book will be a challenge to readers, as it has been to us, and an incentive for reflecting on different methods of learning and knowledge transfer in our country.

Lidija Pavić-Rogošić

ODRAZ-Održivi razvoj zajednice

The book is also available on https://www.odraz.hr/ the officical site of association that translated it and published it online.