Functions and Importance of

Education in the Society

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).
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

 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.
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 ilustrados.
 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 selfgoverning 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
1. Formal education
2. Non-formal 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

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.
b. Secondary Education

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:
1. state universities
2. 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.
 emerged in response to the world crisis in education identified by
Philip H. Coombs in 1967, who argued that the formal education
system have 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
 Functions are important to be performed as
they make the society whole. If each function
is working well, society attains progress.
1. Productive Citizenry

 they are equipped with knowledge and skills that could contribute to
the development of their society’s systems and institutions.
 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.
 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 (dignity)- 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).
5. Self-actualization needs - realizing personal
potential
HOWEVER,

 through education, humans are empowered to experience and learn

their true capacities that lead to self-actualization.
 Humans also tend to find boundless enthusiasm in learning outside
the classroom, which is basically through experience.
 With this, it becomes easier for them to socialize, to identify a career
path, to create self-identity, and the like. They will tend to have the
ability to analyze, evaluate, and decide on their own.
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.
Activity

make a slogan that promotes

quality primary education for all.
Use any writing and coloring
materials available.
ASSESSMENT

Read and analyze the concepts below. Write the

word Correct if the idea of the statement is true
and write the word Incorrect if otherwise.
Correct OR Incorrect?

1. Education is also a form of

socialization according to
sociologists.
Correct OR Incorrect?

2. The American colonization in the

Philippines lasted for forty-eight years and
had brought a big influence in our education
system today.
Correct OR Incorrect?

3. The education during the Spanish

time was open for all indios.
Correct OR Incorrect?

4. Formal education follows

indefinite system of learning
process.
Correct OR Incorrect?

5. Tertiary education is

regulated by the Department of
Education.
Correct OR Incorrect?

6. Elementary education is a

formal type of education.
Correct OR Incorrect?

7. Elementary education in the country

is compulsory thus all Filipino children
are enrolled in elementary school.
Correct OR Incorrect?

8. SPED school aims to develop

the potentials of the child with
special needs.
Correct OR Incorrect?

9. High school has a total of six

years under the new school
curriculum.
Correct OR Incorrect?

10. Education reflects a

classless society.