Functions and

Importance of
Education in Society
Understanding how education shapes
individuals and communities
What did you think are terms and
phrases written about the school?
What is Education?
•Education is the process of
acquiring knowledge, skills,
values, and attitudes, enabling
individuals to become
productive members of society.
Why is Education Important?

It empowers individuals,
promotes social equality, and
drives societal progress.
The role of education and school in the
society
• 1. Socialization and Cultural Transmission: Instill societal norms, values, and
traditions to promote cultural continuity.
• 2. Social Integration and Community Cohesion: Bring together people from
diverse backgrounds, fostering unity and understanding.
• 3. Economic Development and Workforce Preparation: Equip students with
skills and knowledge for careers and entrepreneurship.
• 4. Social Mobility and Equal Opportunities: Offer pathways to success, breaking
cycles of poverty and reducing inequality.
• 5. Political Socialization and Civic Responsibility: Teach students about their
roles as informed and active citizens.
• 6. Personal Development and Lifelong Learning: Encourage creativity, critical
thinking, and self-improvement.
Types of education
• 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
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.
At the basic education level, the Department of Education (DepEd) sets overall
educational standards and mandates standardized tests for the K to 12 basic education
system, although private schools are generally free to determine their own curriculum
in accordance with existing laws and Department regulations.
b. Secondary Education
Secondary education, public schools and private schools, 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: state universities and 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
2. 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.
3. 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. As a
concept, non-formal education 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
Functions of Education in the Society
1. Productive Citizenry
Education systems enable citizens to be productive members of a society,
as they are equipped with knowledge and skills that could contribute to the
development of their society’s systems and institutions. This highlights the
importance of formal and nonformal education in the development of oneself
and the society. Consequentially, it is crucial for educational systems to adapt
to the changing demands of the environment to efficiently capacitate
individuals. 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. Moreover, 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 behavior 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 - 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). Maslow indicated that the
need for respect or reputation is most important for children and adolescents and
precedes real self-esteem or dignity.
5. Self-actualization needs - realizing personal potential, self-fulfillment, seeking
personal growth and peak experiences.
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.
Functions of Education
1. Transmission of Culture - the process of passing on cultural knowledge, values,
and practices from one generation to the next. Example: National history classes foster
patriotism.

2. Social Integration - the process of incorporating new groups into a society's

social structure. Example: Schools promote teamwork through group activities.
3. Social Control - the way that society regulates and sanctions behaviors that go
against social norms. Example: Discipline policies teach responsibility.
4. Social Placement - the process of identifying and placing people into social
groups based on their abilities and other factors. Example Degrees open doors to
careers.
5. Development of Skills - the process of learning and improving skills to become
more effective and efficient. Example: Degrees open doors to careers.
6. Innovation and Change - the process of learning and improving skills to become
more effective and efficient. Example: Research in universities leads to
technological advancements.
•Activity: 1. Group Discussion
Question: Which function of
education has the greatest impact
on society? Why?
• Examine the functions and importance of
• education in the society