Resources for unit 2

Activity:

Meaning of education

Etymologically, the word education comes from the Latin word educatio, which is derived from the verb educare. The verb educare means to rear, to bring up, to educate, to nourish, or to feed in the sense of feeding, taking care of, and raising a child.  The verb "educare” is derived from the combination of "e-": a prefix meaning "out" or "away." And "ducere": a verb that means "to lead." Thus, “Educere” means "to lead someone out of”.  Therefore, "educare" literally means "to lead out" or "to bring forth." This reflects the idea of bringing out or developing one's potential, knowledge, or abilities, as is the goal of education. The noun form educatio refers to the act or process of rearing, nurturing, or training, and it later came to mean the process of educating or instruction, which is the meaning that the word education has retained in modern usage.

The word education entered the English language in the 16th century, where it was used to refer to instruction and the development of knowledge, skills, and character. Its meaning kept the original idea of “leading out” or “drawing forth” a person’s innate abilities. In this fundamental sense, education is understood as the process of guiding individuals out of ignorance and helping them develop their potential, knowledge, and capacities.

Different scholars have defined education in various ways. According to Durkheim (1968:41), education is “the action exercised by the adult generations on those who are not yet mature for social life.” In the same perspective, Morin and Brunet (1992:15) define education as “the action that consists in helping a human being to train himself, to develop himself, and to raise himself; it is also the result of his action.”

In contemporary understanding, education is viewed as a deliberate attempt to transmit and acquire accumulated worthwhile knowledge, understanding, skills, and attitudes from one generation to another. It is the process of facilitating learning or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits, as well as the process of teaching and learning that shapes the individual. It is the process of learning and teaching that involves the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, beliefs, and habits.

Through education, a person acquires competences, including knowledge, abilities, skills, attitudes, and values, which are developed in all circumstances of life. Through education, individuals are guided to develop intellectually, socially, morally, and emotionally to become productive members of society. At its core, education aims to:

-        Develop human potential

-        Transmit cultural heritage and values

-        Promote critical thinking and problem-solving

-        Prepare individuals for responsible citizenship and employment

-        Foster lifelong learning and personal growth

In essence, education is both a personal and societal tool for transformation.