Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
REGION VII, CENTRAL VISAYAS
Division of Cebu Province
SELF-LEARNING HOME TASK (SLHT)
Subject: Understanding Culture Society and Politics Grade Level: 11 and 12
Quarter: 2 Week: 3
MELC: Examine the functions and importance of education in the society
Competency Code: ______________________
Name ________________________ Section ____________ Date ________
School ________________________ District ____________________________

A. Readings/Discussions
Functions and Importance of Education

The Meaning of Education

Education {ej-oo-key-shuhn], the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge,
developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually
for mature life (https://www.dictionary.com/browse/education).However, education, as a social institution
has a different meaning. Dr. William Little (2014) held that education is a social institution through which a
society’s children are taught basic academic knowledge, learning skills, and cultural norms.
Furthermore, the word education is derived from the Latin word “educare” which means “to train”, “to
rear or bring-up (a child)”. Hence, it plays a significant role in transferring culture and social norms among
members of society, in the process of training and various modalities of educating. It enables individual to
flourish their personality to withstand the culture and social systems. It will always remain as an essential
support pillar in our society. Hence, Alvin Toffler, an American writer and futurist, is popularly quoted for
having said “The illiterate of the twenty-first century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those
who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.” This marks the highlights of the extensive journey that occurs in the
field of education.
The System of Education in the Philippines
There are two types of education in the Philippines: the formal and the nonformal. Formal education
refers to the standardized method of hierarchically structured and progressive schooling that corresponds to
the general notion of elementary and secondary and tertiary level of education. Yet, only the primary and
secondary level is compulsory to the students. In the educational system of the Philippines, the elementary
and secondary level is administered and supervised by the Department of Education. Elementary level is
composed of kindergarten and six (6) years of primary education. Whereas, the secondary contains four (4)
years of junior high school and two (2) years of senior high school. Furthermore, the tertiary level is
administered and supervised by the Commission on Higher Education. The actual years spent in this level
depends on the curriculum of each course. Nonetheless, the nonformal education refers to an educational
activity carried outside the structure of a formal education. According to UNESCO, non-formal education can
cover programmes contributing to adult and youth literacy and education for out-of-school children, as well
as programmes on life skills, work skills, and social or cultural development. Thus, this type of education is
basically flexible, learner-centered, contextualized and requires learners to participate in every activity. Also,
the age of learners in this category is not a necessity. One example is the Alternative Learning System or ALS
overseen by the Department of Education. ALS Non-formal Education happens outside the classroom,
community-based, usually conducted at community learning centers, barangay multi-purpose hall, libraries or
at home, managed by ALS learning facilitators, such as mobile teachers, district ALS Coordinators,
instructional managers at an agreed schedule and venue between the learners and facilitators.
(https://www.deped.gov.ph/k-to-12/inclusive-education/aboutalternative-learning-system/)
The Functions of Education and its Importance

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 Whether formal or nonformal, education addresses various needs of this society. Education also
provides a “productive citizenry”, and makes the “self-actualization” possible. Productive citizens are
necessary for the improvement of the community. However, self-actualization refers to the desire for self-
fulfillment or the tendency of human to become actualized in what he is potentially. Again, education takes a
vital part to achieve the self-actualization. Education has different functions. This consists of socialization,
transmission of culture, social integration social placement, and social and cultural innovation and/or
preservation.
a) Socialization. Socialization is an essential ingredient in creating a society. Since school is an agent of
socialization, thus, education helps transform human in becoming literate and recognize its function in the
society. Through education as a means of socialization, we also learn social norms, values and culture that are
fortified by our teachers, our textbooks, and our classmates as well.
b) Transmission of Culture. Through socialization in school (teachers to learners, and learner to learner), the
transmission of culture is at the highest possible. Through education, human learn the values, beliefs, and
social norms of their culture.
c) Social Integration. As the saying goes “nations are built because of education”, this is because education
portrays an important role to unify individuals by teaching the common values and social norms.
d) Social Placement. It could be a cliché that “all other professions rooted from teachers” though, it is indeed
the reality. Education provides a social placement for everyone. It prepares us for the later station of our lives,
and, to buy the necessities of life. Now, this makes sense to “productive citizenry” and “self-actualization.
Nonetheless, it is not a secret that education can change one’s life. “Having education in an area helps people
think, feel, and behave in a way that contributes to their success, and improves not only their personal
satisfaction but also their community” (cited from Al-Shuaibi, Abdulghani, The Importance of Education,
2014).
Legal Provisions of Education: Education as a Human Right
It is stated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the UN website:
Article 26:
(1) Everyone has the right to education. Education shall be free, at least in the elementary and fundamental
stages. Elementary education shall be compulsory. Technical and professional education shall be made
generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
(2) Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the strengthening of
respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. It shall promote understanding, tolerance and friendship
among all nations, racial or religious groups, and shall further the activities of the United Nations for the
maintenance of peace.
(3) Parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.
In the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article 14:
Section 1: The State shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and
shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all.
Section 2, Paragraph 2: The state shall establish and maintain a system of free public education in the
elementary and high school levels. Without limiting the natural right of parents to rear their children,
elementary education is compulsory for all children of school age; The right to education is fundamental. It is
non-discriminatory. Everyone has the right to education regardless of race, ethnicity, social origin, gender,
political preferences or disability. It is also a vital human right in exercising all the other human rights.
Furthermore, it stimulates independence and concession to produce significant development benefits for the
country. It is a powerful instrument for economically and socially marginalized individuals away from poverty
to become productive citizen of the country. Since education is a human right, every individual has an equal
opportunity to participate in an education system.

B. Exercises

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Directions: Write down the distinction between the formal and nonformal education.

Process Questions:
1. How formal and nonformal education differ?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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2. Which type of education are you in, the formal or the nonformal? Why?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
3. Give example/s of formal and nonformal education.
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
4. Why do you think they are important in the society?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

Assessment
Directions: Read the following items carefully. Encircle the letter with the correct answer.

1. Education is a social institution that has its own definition. Which of the following bests define education?

A. It is a social institution that improve social status

B. It is a social institution that helps people think, feel, and behave in a way that contributes to their success.
C. It is a social institution through which a society’s children are taught basic academic knowledge, learning
skills, and cultural norms.
D. All the above
2. The educational system in the Philippines has two forms: the formal and the nonformal. Which of the
following belongs to a nonformal education?
A. An educational activity about work skills.
B. An educational program for out of school children.
C. An educational movement for social development.
D. All of the above
3. Both formal and nonformal education has its own distinct characteristics. Which of the following
statements determine the distinctions of the two?
A. The formal education allows the transmission of culture while the nonformal education does not.
B. The formal education is a classroom based while nonformal education is a community based.
C. The nonformal education is progressive while the formal education is regressive.
D. The nonformal education is hierarchically structure while the formal education does not require any
structure.
4. Education has several functions to people and society. Which of these statements tells the function of
education?
A. Education is for all
B. Education is reinforced by state or religion.
C. Provides new experiences, offers alternatives.
D. Education transmits culture and provides socialization.
5. Education will be more appreciated through its goals. Which of these are the two most important goals of

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education?
A. Communication and patriotism
B. Social and cultural innovations
C. Self-actualization and productive citizenry
D. Upgrading social standing and becoming famous
6. The education has a huge and multifaceted social institution that prepares citizens for innumerable needs
of society. What does this statement infer?
A. Education is the primary institution in the society.
B. The main goal of the society is to educate the citizen.
C. Education is a primary need for economic development.
D. Education performs several functions for people and the community they belong.
7. The following is a nonformal education except for?
A. Computer Literacy Program
B. Primary Education
C. Secondary Education
D. Tertiary Education

8. Which among the following belongs to a compulsory formal education?

A. Welding
B. College education
C. Elementary education
D. Alternative Learning System
9. Whether formal or nonformal education, both exerts significance in the society. Hence, everyone is entitled
to a free education of at least a primary education. Which of the following does not show the significance of
the right to education?
A. It stimulates independence.
B. It provides productive citizens.
C. It divests work related opportunities.
D. It produces important development benefits.
10. “Education prepares us for the later station of our lives, and to buy the necessities of life.” Which
statement does it implies?
A. Socialization
B. Social Integration
C. Social Needs
D. Social Placement
11. “The illiterate of the twenty-first century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who
cannot learn, unlearn and relearn”. This statement was from the American writer and futurist Alvin Toffler.
What
does he wants to high lights in saying this?
A. Illiteracy is being knowledgeable.
B. It is the concept of being a good learner.
C. It is the manner of pursuing your dreams.
D. The long journey that has taken place in the field of education.

12.Which is a social institution that taught basic academic knowledge, learning skills, and cultural norms?
A. Education
B. Formal education
C. Informal education
D. Nonformal education
13.Which type of education is usually based in the classroom and the learners are provided by trained and
professional teaching and nonteaching personnel?
A. Homeschooling
B. Formal education

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C. Informal education
D. Nonformal education
14.The education that focuses more on skills, more of participatory approach and is out of a formal structure
is nonformal. Which shows scenario of a nonformal education??
A. Martheena attends her class every day at school.
B. Grace passed the National Certificate on driving.
C. Maggie stays at home and her lesson is conducted by an online teacher.
D. Allan attends night classes at the nearby university because he is working during daytime.
15.Livie is already 45 years old but she just completed grade nine level of basic education. She wanted to go
back to school to learn dressmaking. Which type of education is best for her?
A. Homeschooling
B. Formal education
C. Informal education
D. Nonformal education

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.

Disclaimer: The statements stated above are borrowed from the online sources. The
Department of Education-Cebu Province does not claim or own the presented
statements. Links for the sources are found in the reference part of the Self-Learning
Home Task.