Introduction
Ideally, states expect their populations to perform complex duties with ease and align their goals and objectives to societal expectations. Citizens with high-level competencies contribute to national growth and development. This strategy enables nation-states to address various problems that stem from ignorance. Currently, governments of modern states place particular emphasis on improving the capacities of their populations. They collaborate with their educational institutions to develop and generate important information. Besides providing quality education to the populations, learning institutions assume various other social responsibilities. This paper provides a review of the aims of education and the critical roles that schools play in society.
Education instills in individuals important moral values that enable them to pursue just causes. Relative enlightenment improves the decision-making capacity of the students, especially in challenging situations. Society has distinct values that it expects its citizens to uphold at all times. They guide behavior, promote justice, and minimize conflicts that undermine effective functioning. By promoting social cohesion, the values contribute significantly to the effective functioning of both individuals and society (Hinchey 122). Most importantly, adherence to these ideas develops desirable virtuous character. Through education, individuals acquire a strong moral character that is essential for problem resolution and peaceful coexistence. This helps in eliminating social vices such as corruption and oppression.
In addition, education equips students with skills, knowledge, and competencies in different fields of specification. According to social research, education prepares individuals to face the challenges of the job market and participate actively in income-generating activities (Spring 40). Educated individuals assume important positions in the economic sector and perform specialized duties. Their active participation in economic production contributes significantly to the nation’s economic growth and development. In addition, it improves the quality of their lifestyles and addresses various social problems that emanate from poverty and unemployment. In this regard, education promotes social equality by giving all individuals opportunities to benefit fully from the resources that the society presents (Spring 31). Using the skills and knowledge, they explore emergent opportunities and strengthen benefiting relationships.
In addition to inculcating important moral values and technical skills in the students, education develops all around and integrated individuals through comprehensive training. This enhances the performance of students in diverse settings that characterize the modern environment. Besides having the ability to lead balanced lifestyles with respect to social, cultural, and economic functioning, educated individuals make meaningful contributions to the national economy (Spring 135). Further, they appreciate the significance of future populations and thus engage in sustainable practices such as environmental protection. Most importantly, this education enlightens the individuals about their spiritual life. Coupled with moral values, this particular knowledge encourages the assumption of positive behavioral tendencies.
As aforementioned, learning institutions play an important role in transmitting knowledge to the students (Hinchey 123). In this respect, schools develop an educational curriculum that comprises selective knowledge. In addition to instilling this knowledge in the students, they use standardized procedures to test their level of understanding and ensure that they benefit fully from the process of learning. They have sufficient material and human resources to deliver this knowledge in an effective manner. In this respect, the tools they use in learning foster holistic development. Thus, learning institutions participate actively in generating information and formulating vital standards.
Further, schools control the conduct of students using state as well as institution-generated standards (Hinchey 124). In most instances, schools derive their rules and regulations from national laws. By teaching students to behave well and conform to the established rules and regulations, learning institutions promote the interests of families as well as those of the civic community. In this regard, they collaborate with the state in developing law-abiding individuals. In addition, schools provide social settings that support collective decision-making. In the current democratic environment, society requires proactive individuals who can mobilize resources effectively and exercise their freedom at all times. Through democratic governance at an institutional level, schools allow students to participate actively in making decisions that affect them directly. According to Hinchey, this practice promotes social justice and encourages participative citizenship (Hinchey 127).
Conclusion
Individuals are important members of society an