THE ROLE OF EDUCATION ON SOCIETAL DEVELOPMENT
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INTRODUCTION
Right since the ancient times,
quality of life, values at social and individual levels, spiritual and material
progress has been direct products of education. Of course, the form and the methodology of education has been undergoing transformation constantly and
consistently with changing times. In ancient times, education was very
intimately connected to religion and the social values of the day. But, during
the recent centuries, the scope of education has increased enormously to
include much more than what it did previously.
Human
beings are to educate and to be educated. The primary aim of education is to
sustain individual and societal improvement. This process contains both
tangible and moral dimensions. Educational programs and policies play a pivotal
role in this social and individual progress. Social progress clearly indicates
a general development in the community in terms of economic, social and
cultural aspects. In sociological terminology, social development is used for a
concept displaying all positive developments in the social construct. To put it
differently, this is to state a society which is considered to be progressing
and changing from a fairly less decent situation to favorably better conditions with respect to economic, social and political issues. The main
difference between the living and the non-living is that the former always
renews itself. One of the mechanisms which provide and maintain this renewal
is education. Thus, the comprehension and explanation of the role of education
in this social development are of paramount importance so as to understand the
previously stated progress and change.
THE ROLE OF EDUCATION ON SOCIETAL DEVELOPMENT
1. EDUCATION AND SOCIETY
Societal and natural conditions determine the
role and function of education. Within the relationship between education
and society, the most salient feature of education is its communal side. The
social context is imperative for education to function well. Society and
education complete each other. Society cannot carry on without education and
vice versa. Education affects not only the person being educated but also the
whole community by starting from his/her family. In other words, raising a sufficient number of efficient people for more prosperous society is the duty
of education and educational institutions which have certain functions in the
community. Each educational institution establishes relationships throughout
mutual interactions. Education, as a phenomenon, is both a social foundation
and a process occurring in society. If established a prior and hierarchical
sequence, society can be regarded as the objective and the education can be
considered as the indispensable means of this objective. In this respect, to
research into the functional relationship between education and society and its
other institutions is of great importance for community development.
2. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION
Community
development is overall development. In this respect, educational system and
economy are two closely related social institutions. Schools are an important
component of the educational system provide instruction and personality formation
which enables economic progress and community development. Community
development and change are particularly related to the education and instruction
that social problems are identified and citizens are informed about these
matters in a democratic way. Educational facilities are important due to two
reasons: First, it is to prevent people from falling behind changing social and
economic conditions. Second, it is to develop and change the community by
restraining these conditions. The main duty of institutions in almost every
community is to sustain the existence and maintenance by regulating the
relations. While determining the educational objectives, it is crucial to pay
attention to individual and socio-cultural aspects and to take social
efficiency criteria into consideration. The coordination of all actions having
already been proceeded or to proceed are imperative for development.
To actualize
community development, it is necessary to organize shared educational
activities in order to familiarize the society with working in groups. In this
respect, the importance of educational institutions should not be disregarded.
It does not seem to be possible to become successful for a community producing
projects contributing to community development and change without knowing the
relational and value system of the community and the groups. In cases where
socio-cultural elements are neglected in development and change, the failure
will be inevitable. For instance, prior to initiating an action for development
in a lazy and impassive social structure, it is somewhat essential to infuse
the instinct of promise into the members of this society. As stated by Frank
Tyger (1929-2011), development cannot be provided with self-satisfied people.
Development and
change start with awakening the sense of capability. Undoubtedly, in this
process, composing and infusing this sense and coordinating every detail will
be the most important role of educational institutions. Community development
is human development, as well. The pattern of human qualifications is
attributed firmly in action plans and programs of developed and developing
countries in the world. From a sociological perspective, it is assumed that
there is a great relationship between educational policies and social
expectations and ideals. If the idea that a community cannot improve its
well-fare degree without raising its mental level is a sociological fact, in
accordance with this fact, mental improvement should be directed from traditional
and local ideas toward a modern fashion. The only way to accomplish this fact
is education. As revealed by Paul Valery (1871-1945), today's problem is that the future is not as it is before. This implies that it is crucial to establish an
educational system which does not stay opposed to the spirit of today in order
to have a voice in such a future that will never become as it is before.
Otherwise, generations that never contribute to the community development
despite having a continuous education will be inevitably raised.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the
most important contribution of education is not only to upgrade the living
standards of citizens but also to enable them to become better citizens. In
addition to being a human right, education today is a prerequisite for
development and also an effective means for both taking knowledge-based
decisions and improving democracy. Education improves and strengthens the developmental capacities of individuals, communities, groups, institutions, and
countries. However, as Roosevelt's saying ‘trying to educate a person mentally
without educating morally is to bring a menace into the society’ indicated,
this is possible via educating people to become supporters of each other but not
enemies at all. In this vein, education can create a safer, healthier and more
prosperous world and enhance the living standards by changing the visions and
perspectives of individuals.
REFERENCS
Webster, A. (1991). Sociology of
Development, Macmillan Press, London.
Marshall, G.. (1994). Dictionary
of Sociology. Oxford Press, Oxford.
Musgrave, P. W. (1983). The
Sociology of Education, Methuen Press, New York, USA.
Daniel, B. (1974) The Coming of
Post Industrial Society, Heinemann, London.
Mimar, T.(2012), The Role Of Education In The
Societal Development, Antalya, TURKEY.
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