Edited by Tim Little, Saturday 22 November 2025 at 17:29
I started this course with a slightly woolly idea of the purpose of education. I thought of education as preparing learners for adult life, an idea which is somewhat nebulous but embraces their economic, social and personal aspects.
Studying different views and models of education over the last couple of months has prompted a few thoughts about these things.
Each model we have looked at contains aspects of two perspectives, one in terms of the learner and the other of wider society. All have aspects of both, with possibly the capabilities model focusing most strongly on the individual while “education for social development” being more concerned with the wider, social and environmental purpose of education. Looking at issues such as demographic change, including migration and refugees as well as technological changes also highlighted the dual purpose of education, to “enable young people to thrive in an uncertain future” and to build a society that is sustainable economically and environmentally, respects the rights of all its members and allows all to flourish. Education of the individual happens in the context of a society.
Focusing on a single aspect, such as economic capital or rights, is not enough. Education needs to reflect and improve all aspects of all individuals. It also needs to recognise its responsibility to the society it works within, and is funding it. Education not only prepares individuals, it also shapes societies.
Activity 4.6 - The role and purpose of education
I started this course with a slightly woolly idea of the purpose of education. I thought of education as preparing learners for adult life, an idea which is somewhat nebulous but embraces their economic, social and personal aspects.
Studying different views and models of education over the last couple of months has prompted a few thoughts about these things.
Each model we have looked at contains aspects of two perspectives, one in terms of the learner and the other of wider society. All have aspects of both, with possibly the capabilities model focusing most strongly on the individual while “education for social development” being more concerned with the wider, social and environmental purpose of education. Looking at issues such as demographic change, including migration and refugees as well as technological changes also highlighted the dual purpose of education, to “enable young people to thrive in an uncertain future” and to build a society that is sustainable economically and environmentally, respects the rights of all its members and allows all to flourish. Education of the individual happens in the context of a society.
Focusing on a single aspect, such as economic capital or rights, is not enough. Education needs to reflect and improve all aspects of all individuals. It also needs to recognise its responsibility to the society it works within, and is funding it. Education not only prepares individuals, it also shapes societies.