Question

What are the functions of education in modern industrial society?

Answer 1

1. Education as a means of socialisation: It is impossible for a contemporary industrial society to rely on peer groups or family to pass on knowledge and cultural legacy to the next generation because this is a massive undertaking that requires a specialized institutional setup. Numerous institutions, including schools, colleges, universities, and technical and vocational schools, support the socialization process by presenting the next generation with a prescribed curriculum and preparing them for real-world situations through knowledge.
2. Education as a means of social control: Political and economic institutions are provided in an industrial society with the responsibility of managing social matters, and no social institution is ever free from their meddling. In the past, people’s behavior was greatly influenced by their family, neighborhood, relatives, and peer groups. However, in an industrial society, the demands of the workplace and the state’s widespread presence have diminished the effect of these social groupings as a social control mechanism.
3. Education as an aid to personality development: The goal of education is always to bring out the best in man so that he might grow into a fully realized human being. Through education, one attempts to express the best version of oneself. However, a number of people in any community are unable to receive a formal education from an institution. They are not given the chance to express themselves. This divide between the rich few and the underprivileged majority is also seen in contemporary industrial societies.
4. Education as an integrative force: Education also helps people assimilate into society at large by instilling ideals. A person must understand their entire environment, in which they will be incorporated in later life, rather than just focusing on gaining knowledge and facts. Due to the overemphasis on professional efficiency in industrial society, people are becoming socially alienated and unable to mix with others because they are becoming too specialized.
5. Education as an agent of social mobility: A man becomes a “total” man through education, which also helps him develop his personality, acquire new skills and information, and cultivate a concern for society. It follows naturally from this that man ought to work to enhance and progress society. It is a force that motivates people to keep going, that is always dormant in their minds. There are no social norms that are constant. Social conventions, customs, behavioral patterns, living styles, and interaction regulations are always evolving.