Ranting about embracing independent education (8)
I believe the answer is:
training
'education' is the definition.
('training' can be a synonym of 'education')
'ranting about embracing independent' is the wordplay.
'about' indicates an anagram.
'embracing' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'independent' becomes 'i'.
'ranting' anagrammed gives 'trainng'.
'trainng' placed around 'i' is 'TRAINING'.
(Other definitions for training that I've seen before include "Working out" , "Vocational education" , "Doing exercises" , "Learning a skill" , "Tuition" .)