âEducation means bringing out of the ideas of universal validity which are latent in the mind of everymanâ.
âSocratesâ
In every civilized society men and women believe that education is comprehensive, compulsory and necessary for every individual. Education is an important human activity. The very concept if education is like a diamond which appears to be of a different colour when seen from different angles.
Etymological Definition:
The word âEducationâ had its origin in the Latin word âEducatumâ, itself composed of two words, âEâ and âDucoâ, means developing and progressing. Hence, in its literal scenario, education means becoming develop or progressing from inside to outside. In other words, education implies some of the change for the better and greater in a person.
Different educational theorists has given different derivations of the concept âEducationâ.
1. According to Forebel, âEducation is a process through which child makes its internal externalâ.
2. According to Eddisoan, âWhen education works on noble mind it draws out to view every latent virtue and perfection.
3. According to Pestalozzi, âEducation is defined as natural, harmonious and progressive development of menâs innate powersâ.
4. According to M. K. Gandhi, âI mean an all around drawing out of the best in child and man body, mind and spiritâ.
Education is aggregate of all the processes by which a person develops ability, attitudes and behaviour of practical values in the society in which he lives.
Narrow Sense of Education: In large majority of people use the concept of education to mean the training undertaken for some years in some educational institutions. This is the narrow meaning of the concept of education. In other words, it implies education provided according to a fixed curriculum by a particular set of people in a specific place.
Wider Sense of Education: The very betterment of an adjusted pattern of life is the product of that educational system. The very educative system is going on every moment in the life of a person. Here, each dayâs activities has an effect upon him. The educant may perceive or not perceive that effect.
Liberal Sense of Education: When the word âEducationâ is accepted in its more literal meaning it is granted that all the times and places and individuals is imbibing some of its areas. Here, it is not limited merrily to the classroom. It can be obtained all kinds of social organizations, associations, individuals, nature, etc. It is mention may be made that a child gets his education not only from his teacher, but also from the entire environment of his life.
A Sense of Individual Development: Education is the complete development of the individuality of the child. According to some thinkers and philosophers, education is nothing but a process which a child can have free, spontaneous and individual betterment. Basically, the main achievement of âeducationâ lies in ability to arouse interest towards the subject of inspiring him.
As a Product: Education is the product of learning process. It implies growth and development. Education is a process or system through which date, experience, information is achieved of course it is a continuous and comprehensive process of training and guidance.
A bi-polar System: Education of course is a bi-polar system. Here it involves the interplay of the educator and the educant. In this process of education the teacher and the taught are the active participants. So education is nothing but bi-polar process by which the natural spontaneous and progressive betterment of the child is justified.
A tri-polar System: Education is also a tri-polar system. It involves the interaction of the personality of the educator and the educant in a social setting. In other words it effects the modification of the behaviour of the educant.
Education in the West: Educational training like every other branch of knowledge started in the philosophical deliberation of the ancient Greek philosophers. Here, it is mention may be made of Platoâs name. He termed education as a âLife long process starting from the first years of childhood and lasting to the very end of the lifeâ.
Education in India: In Indian approach, it becomes necessary to cover the spiritual area. Here, it is accepted as a part of betterment by education. In other words, Indian philosophers have placed special importance upon this. According to Shankaracharya, âEducation is that which leads salvationâ. Yajuavalkya said that, only that is education which gives a sterling character to an individual and renders him useful for the world.
A modern developed society cannot survive without education. It is an old as humanity. It helps people adjust to change. Succinctly, it is only education which can help a person understand to all the Social changes and provide the skills and technology for adjusting to them.