Functions and Importance of Education in the Society

Education cultivates a country’s economy and society; therefore, it is the milestone of a nation’s
progress. Education provides knowledge and skills to the population, as well as shaping the personality
of the youth of a nation. Nevertheless, can education really shape the nation’s advancement? What can
it do and what is its role in the society? Education is the most crucial aspect of society. Why? It is for the
reason that when it given great attention it will become the powerful tool to make every individual the
catalyst of change, a change than can make the society progressive and functional. Society and every
individual should work hand in hand so that no one would be set aside and become outdated knowing
that we are now living in a highly modernized society. In order to achieve that, everyone should be
aware on the functions of education in the society.

Definition of Education

Education is the social institution through which society provides its members with important
knowledge, including basic facts, job skills, and cultural norms and values (Macionis, 2012). Education is
the acquisition of knowledge, habits, skills, and abilities through instruction and training or through self-
activity. It is systematic training of the moral and intellectual faculties of the mind. It is the process of
transmitting to the young, the vital cultural heritage of a group.

Education in the Philippines

Education in the Philippines is managed and regulated by the Department of Education, commonly
referred to as the DepEd. It controls the Philippine educational system, including the creation and
implementation of the curriculum and the utilization of funds allotted by the national government. It
also manages the construction of schools, acquisition of books and other school materials, and the
recruitment of teachers and staff. Before the Philippines attained independence in 1946, the country’s
education system was patterned after the educational systems of Spain and the United States. The
Philippines, with exemption to other parts of the country, were under Spanish rule for more than three
hundred years while the Americans stayed for twenty-two years.

Spanish and the United States brought educational practices, which reflected their culture and
ideologies. During the Spanish time, the function of education was inculcated moral and religious values.
Religion was the core curriculum, and the schools were used to spread Christianity. It mainly served the
upper classes; thus, education symbolized “social standing and prestige.” The educated class consisted
mostly of illustrados. When the Americans came, education was focused on the development of new
social patterns that would prepare the nation for a self-governing democracy. Public institution was
institutionalized to give every person the education needed to participate in a self-governing democracy.
The medium of instruction was English. However, after independence, the country’s educational system
changed radically.

Today, the government of the Philippines has been very active in tapping the educational system for the
country’s development efforts. With the adaptation of the K to 12 programs, it is hoped that Philippine
Educational System is now responding to the demands of the economy for national development. Types
of Education In general, there are three types of education, these are:

1. Formal education -This refers to the hierarchically structured, chronologically graded educational

system from primary school to the university, including programs and institutions for full time technical
and vocational training. At the end of each level, the learners must obtain certification in order to enter
or advance to the next level. Formal education shall correspond to the following levels in basic
education:

a. Elementary Education
Elementary education involves compulsory, formal education primarily concerned with providing
basic education, and usually corresponds to a traditional six grades or seven grades, and in addition,
to preschool programs. Such preschool education normally consists of kindergarten schooling but
may cover other preparatory courses as well.
At the basic education level, the Department of Education (DepEd) sets overall educational standards
and mandates standardized tests for the K to 12 basic education system, although private schools are
generally free to determine their own curriculum in accordance with existing laws and Department
regulations.

b. Secondary Education
Secondary education, public schools and private schools, is concerned primarily with continuing
basic education of the elementary level and expanding it to include the learning of employable,
gainful skills, usually corresponding to four years of junior high school and two years of senior high
school.

c. Tertiary Education Institutions of higher education may be classified as either public or private college
or university, and public institutions of higher education may further be subdivided into two types: state
universities and colleges and local colleges and universities. Most institutions of higher learning are
regulated by the Commission of Higher Education (CHED). Colleges typically offer 1 or more specialized
programs while universities must offer at least 8 or more different undergraduate degree programs in a
wide array of subjects and at least 2 or more graduate programs.

Public universities are all non-sectarian and offer a wide-range of programs, with English as medium of
instruction. Public universities are government funded, with the largest, the University of the
Philippines, receiving a substantial amount from the annual budget.

There are also several private tertiary institutions, sectarian or non-sectarian as well as for profit or not-
for-profit.

2. Non-formal education

It refers to any organized educational activity outside the established formal system to provide selected
types of learning to a segment of the population. As a concept, non-formal education emerged in
response to the world crisis in education identified by Philip H. Coombs in 1967, who argued that the
formal education system has failed to address the changing dynamics of the environment and the
societies. The skills that are needed to foster economic development are lacking due to untrained labor
force that is not able to access formal education. Non-formal education enables a student to learn skills
and knowledge through structured learning experiences. A student learns his/her values, principles, and
beliefs and undergoes lifelong learning.

Example: Vocational Education

Accredited private institutions offer technical and vocational education. Programs offered vary in
duration from a few weeks to two years. On completion students may take centrally-administered
examinations to obtain their diploma or certificate. Vocational colleges do not usually require an
entrance examination. Only a record of high school educational and an enrolment fee are required.

3. Informal education It is a lifelong process whereby every individual acquires from daily experiences,
attitudes, values, facts, skills, and knowledge or motor skill from resources in his or her higher
environment. It offers alternative learning opportunities for the out of school youth and adults
specifically those who are 15 years old and above and unable to avail themselves of the educational
services and programs of formal education. It reaches out to citizens of varied interests, demographic
characteristics, and socioeconomic origins and status. Its primary objective is to provide literacy
programs to eradicate illiteracy.

*Special Education

Special Education refers to the education of persons who are physically, mentally, emotionally, socially,
or culturally different from socalled “normal” individuals, such that they require modification of school
practices to develop their potential. Special education provides distinct services, curricula, and
instructional materials geared to pupils or students who are significantly higher or lower than the
average or norm. SPED aims to develop the maximums potential of the child with the special needs to
enable him/her to become self-reliant and take advantage of the opportunities for a full and happy life.
Functions of Education in the Society As British sociologist Herbert Spencer explains, functions are
important to be performed as they make the society whole. If each function is working well, society
attains progress. He lays down the functions of education as follows:

1. Productive Citizenry

Education systems enable citizens to be productive members of a society, as they are equipped with
knowledge and skills that could contribute to the development of their society’s systems and
institutions. This highlights the importance of formal and non-formal education in the development
of oneself and the society. Consequentially, it is crucial for educational systems to adapt to the
changing demands of the environment to efficiently capacitate individuals. Being a productive
citizen requires critical thinking. One must have the ability to understand his or her duties and be
able to respond to them by making decisions. Through education, individuals are introduced to
concepts concerning democracy, power, inequality, and the like. This promotes greater awareness
in his or her society. It encourages vigilance and participation. Educational attainment does not only
contribute to the individual’s success but also to the betterment of his or her environment.

2. Self-actualization

Education develops one’s sense of self. As a huge part of the discovery process of oneself, education
encourages having the vision to become self-actualized. Moreover, it enables one to see your
strengths and maintain them. It enables one to determine weakness and adjust to them. This helps
one reach full potential and establish oneself as a whole. According to Abraham Maslow, self-
actualization is the highest form of human need. It was defined as “to become more and more what
one is, to become everything that one is capable of becoming.” The concept of Maslow’s hierarchy
of needs is once that level is fulfilled the next level up is what motivates us, and so on

1. Physiological needs - these are biological requirements for human survival, e.g. air, food, drink,
shelter, clothing, warmth, sex, sleep. If these needs are not satisfied the human body cannot
function optimally.
2. Safety needs - protection from elements, security, order, law, stability, freedom from fear.
3. Love and belongingness needs -the need for interpersonal relationships motivates behaviour
Examples include friendship, intimacy, trust, and acceptance, receiving and giving affection and
love. Affiliating, being part of a group (family, friends, work).
4. Esteem needs - which Maslow classified into two categories: (i) esteem for oneself (dignity,
achievement, mastery, and independence) and (ii) the desire for reputation or respect from
others (e.g., status, prestige). Maslow indicated that the need for respect or reputation is most
important for children and adolescents and precedes real self-esteem or dignity. 5. Self-
actualization needs - realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking personal growth and
peak experiences.

The primary function of education is the socialization of the new members of the society. The late
president Ramon Magsaysay aptly observed that “education is the greatest equalizer of
opportunities” for everybody.
Other most important objectives of education are:

1) Teaching basic skills, such as reading, writing, and arithmetic.

2) Helping children develop skills in abstracting thinking and problem solving.

3) Transmitting the cultural heritage, from which individual may develop an appreciation of their
society.

4) Communicating to children the basic value of the society.

5) Teaching the special aspects of the culture, such as art, music, literature, drama, science,
technology, and sports.

6) Teaching vocational skills that help individuals enter the job market.

7) Training citizens for life within the political system of their society.

8) Preparing children to live long and form meaningful relationship with other human beings.

Primary Education as a Human Right

Primary education is essential in the early stages of human life.

Humans need education to enable them to adapt to the dictates of their society. The United Nations
Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declare that education is a fundamental
human right and essential for the exercise of all other human rights. It promotes individual freedom
and empowerment and yields important development benefits. Yet millions of children and adults
remain deprived of educational opportunities, many as a result of poverty.”