Breaking down hierarchical structures in educational processes

Abstract

This research aims to dismantle hierarchical power structures in the educational processes of the Center for Alternative Education. It addresses a problem frequently encountered in educational settings: the reproduction of hierarchical structures in the classroom, which affects pedagogical relationships among educational actors and, at the same time, limits the development of meaningful learning. To transform the identified problem and achieve the stated objectives, the incorporation of horizontal decolonial methodologies is proposed. These methodologies promote participatory and collaborative research through the use of critical and reflective analysis aimed at questioning the "power structures rooted in the educational context." Furthermore, to generate significant transformations, strategies such as awareness workshops and spaces for critical reflection are developed to strengthen teachers' critical thinking, thereby producing significant changes in educational practices. This research proposes alternatives that address the complex problems and realities of Alternative Education, dismantling the mental structures of colonial thought within educational stakeholders. It also develops participatory and flexible teaching and learning strategies that facilitate students' continued studies and educational retention. The results demonstrate significant changes in the subjectivities of educational stakeholders, as well as in their ways of thinking, learning, teaching, and understanding the world, promoting a decolonizing, liberating, and inclusive education.