The most important responsibility of society is to protect it’s culture. There are various ways employed for protection of culture and societal norms but the most effective way of protecting culture is Education. Through education, the teachings of society’s culture and norms are given to the future generations. This ensures transfer of cultural values from one generation to the other. If the new generations of young people are not provided the transfer of culture through medium of education, it will be disastrous for cultural sustainability in a society. Its only through the medium of education that culture of a society ensures its survival.
This brings us to the notion that education is merely not a tool for enlightening individuals; it also carries with itself some important aims which ensure the growth of society and nurturing of values and norms among the individuals residing in the society. Let’s discuss these aims of education one by one in a brief yet thoughtful manner.
Cultural Transfer
Culture is the foundation stone of society. Any society or group is identified through it’s culture. If culture vanishes, so does the society. That is why each community struggles to keep ensuring survival of their culture. For this to happen, cultural transfer is really important. In this process, the central role is played by education. Through education, not only and individual learns the values and norms but also gets to understand their importance in daily life. Telling lies, exploiting someone, dishonesty and moral corruption are some of greater sins committed by humans. Opposite to this, telling the truth, giving the right to its true owner and showing honesty are very great moral values that should be adopted by every human being. An individual learns these values and gives respect to them only by acquiring education. For ensuring cultural transfer, it is necessary that the strong connection exists between the society and the educational institutes, a society believes firmly in adopting these good values which are being taught to the newer generation and the teachers are also sincere in teaching these values. To ensure the transfer of good cultural values, this strong relation needs to strengthen between society and educational institutes.
Social Order
By social order, it is meant ensuring law and order in a society. Law and order will prevail in society when the individuals will follow all rules and regulations, there shall be no incidents of robberies, and no sort of violent behavior will be tolerated. Only then the growth and progress of society can be ensured. In case of lawlessness, each individual is only concerned with saving his/her life and property. This creates a situation where development becomes stagnant. To ensure law and order in society, education can play a vital role. The children who go to schools/colleges regularly obey all rules and laws which maintain social order in society and discourage rule breaking. Educated people are bounded by rules of society and try to become shining examples for all people which initiate a wave of other people following them in observing all rules. Education guides individuals about their roles and responsibilities which they will be deliver accordingly for the betterment of each individual in a society. This all leads to peace and harmony among individuals.
Developing a concern for Social Responsibility
Education not only guides people regarding their roles and responsibilities but also teaches them to deliver on these with utmost truth and honesty. This develops a responsible attitude in individuals. This responsible attitude of individuals is displayed in the form of actions that they take e.g. helping people, speaking truth in face of tyranny and oppression, being honest and sincere towards country, giving respect to elders, being a leading example in igniting social change in society, observing tolerant behavior towards different religions and ethnic identities and many other actions. If a person is educated properly and given a compelling guidance, the concern for social responsibility will automatically develop inside and become helpful to fellow citizens.
Training for Employment
In actuality, the main aim of education is to make a person skilled and beneficial for society. Alongside cultural transfer and developing civic responsibility, a person can become beneficial for the society when he/she acquire skills and training to earn a respectable livelihood. Those individuals who are constant law breakers and indulge in anti-societal activities are compelled to do so because they are depressed, both mentally and financially. That is why aim of education is enabling young people to acquire a decent earning opportunity. It is the responsibility of the higher authorities to turn their attention towards generating employment opportunities through education by means of introducing technical training subjects in schools and providing necessary support for young boys and girls to learn skills in small businesses like farming, making garments and handicrafts. This will enable young individuals to establish their small businesses and thus playing a role to become beneficial and responsible citizens of society.
Mr. Osama Ijaz
