LESSON 6: EDUCATION AND REPRODUCTION OF INEQUALITY

At the end of this lesson, the students are expected to:

a. Define what is Education;

b. Know what are the social functions of education in the society; and
c. Write an essay on how education creates inequalities in the society today

Evaluate each photo. What do you observe in the two (2) pictures below? Write your observations on the
space provided.

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 EDUCATION is another social institution that has pervasive influence in shaping the minds of
the younger generation. It refers to the formal and informal process of transmitting the knowledge,
beliefs, and skills from one generation to the next. However, it is not a simple process of transmission. It
also includes equipping the minds of the younger generation with the necessary critical skills to challenge
and change the existing knowledge system and practices. Therefore, education has a humanistic goal of
freeing the members of society from ignorance and false beliefs.

HORACE MANN

An American educational Reformer, proposed that education could

social ills. He believed that education is the great equalizer by giving
people the knowledge and technical skills to participate in national
development. HORACE MANN
Many people believe in education- based MERITOCRACY or the
belief that education is the great equalizer and the key to succeed in
life. Filipinos, for example, believe in the value of education that they
are willing to sacrifice everything just to finish college.

RANDALL COLLINS RANDALL

A Neo-Weberian Sociologist who argues that education functions as a COLLINS

filter to perpetuate Credentialism.
CREDENTIALISM refers to the common practice of relying on
earned credentials when hiring staff or assigning social status rather
than on actual skills.

SAMUEL BOWLES & HERBER GINTIS SAMUEL

BOWLES
They were both American Economists who argued that education is a
tool for Capitalism to equip the workers with the necessary skills so
they can be hired and exploited by the employers.
The schools teach their students the values necessary to be successful
workers.
In other words, education reproduces social and economic inequalities
along racial, gender, and class division of labor.
HERBERT
GINTIS

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PIERRE BOURDIEU & JEAN-CLAUDE
PASSERON

They showed empirically how education

is advantageous to middle-class children
by teaching and rewarding behaviors that
are generally expected from middle class
families.

LINGUISTIC CODE OF THE STUDENTS

Basil Bernstein made his own analysis of the difference between the linguistic code of the
lower class and that of the middle class students. He arrived at the conclusion that :

1. RESTRICTED LINGUISTIC CODE- It is the code being used by the lower class students.
It emphasizes contextuality and does not permit abstract reasoning.

2. ELABORATED LINGUISTIC CODE-It is the code being used by the middle class
students. They use formal and abstract reasoning.

FOR EXAMPLE:

 TEACHER : Why do you think people watch horror movies?

 STUDENT (Using Restricted Code) : Thrill!

 TEACHER : Why do you think people watch horror movies?

 STUDENT (Using Elaborated Code) : Because by watching it, people get the feeling of being
horrified and afraid.

EDUCATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Education is seen as an important determinant of national

development.

1. EDUCATION provides basic knowledge and skills that

enhance the productivity of labor.

2. EDUCATION contributes to new innovations that lead to

inventions, discoveries, and continuous upgrading of
technologies.

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 3. EDUCATION is an effective instrument to spread and
disseminate knowledge among different sectors of society.

For children with poorly educated parents, the effects of social

deprivation manifest early in life. Lack of education has adverse
impact on the life course of individuals and their well-being.
Education serves as human capital for society that produces
skilled and learned citizens.

WOMEN AND EDUCATION

EDUCATION is a right. The United Nations Universal Declaration Human Rights Article
states:
a. 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 equally accessible to all on the basis of merit.
b. Education shall be directed to the full development of the human personality and to the
strengthening of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Everyone has an opportunity to be educated. Yet women have always been at a disadvantage
when it comes to accessing educational opportunities. These are some disadvantages:
a. Gender stereotypes in the school
b. Gender-insensitive pedagogy
c. Sexual harassment
d. Limited opportunities for promotion
According to the United Nations Population Fund, about 2/3 of the world’s illiterate adults are
women. Lack of education severely restricts a woman’s access to information and opportunities.
Women also suffer from discriminatory practices within the school culture. Boys and men
dominate both space and time in school.
REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9710, AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE MAGNA CARTA
OF WOMEN IN 2008
SECTION 13: “The state shall ensure that gender stereotypes and images
in educational materials and curricula are adequately and appropriately
revised. Gender-sensitive language shall be used at all times. Capacity-
building on gender and development (GAD), peace and human rights,
education for teachers, and all those involved in the education sector shall
be pursued toward this end. “

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 FUNCTIONAL LITERACY RATE

MALE
FEMALE

1989 1994 2003 2008

Figure 1. Comparing Functional Literacy Rates between Males and Females

Based on official statistics, however, Filipino women outperform men in functional literacy. This has
often been attributed to women’s greater diligence in the primary and secondary years, and the tendency
of boys to get into troubles and quit schooling. However additional data demonstrate that, in the tertiary
education, the gender disparity narrows because these also happen to be child-bearing years for many
young women. In fact, men are employed more than women as shown in the data blow.

LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

MEN
WOMEN

Cory FVR Erap GMA Pnoy

Figure 2. Comparing Women’s and Men’s Employment Rate

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However, in recent years, women have become more empowered through political and economic
participation. Filipino women have been elected as leaders and thus more involved in policy decision
making, both in the national and local levels. There are also more female workers who have been
deployed abroad to work for the welfare of their families known as the FEMINIZATION OF LABOR
MIGRATION. But women tend to accept jobs that are usually not commensurate with their educational
attainment such as domestic workers, caregivers, entertainers, clerical staffer, or factory workers.

A. Given the basic problems of the Philippine Educational System such as (Shortages of
Classrooms, teachers, textbooks and facilities, and the low salary of teachers), Interview your
previous or present teachers (through chat or text) about which among these problems they are
experiencing right now.. After thorough analysis, what concrete solutions can you suggest to
address these problems?

PROBLEM CONCRETE SOLUTION/S

1. Shortages of Classrooms

2. Shortages of Teachers

3. Shortages of Textbooks & Facilities

4. Low Salary of Teachers

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 B. WHY IS EDUCATION IMPORTANT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT?

C. WHY IS BASIC EDUCATION A BASIC RIGHT?

D. HOW DOES EDUCATION CONTRIBUTE IN REINFORCING SOCIAL

INEQUALITIES?

E. GIVE A BRIEF/ SHORT ARGUMENT ABOUT YOUR STAND/POINT IN

IMPLEMENTING THE K-12 EDUCATION IN OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.

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