FACTORS INFLUENCING EDUCATION SYSTEM OF ANY COUNTRY

FOUNDATION OF EDUCATION

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1.Write short notes on the following terms:

a)    Education.

b)    Democratic education

c)     Liberal education

d)    Centralized, decentralized Vs hybrid Centralized, decentralized education system.

e)     Formal,  Non-formal and informal education.

f)      Adult education.

SOLUTION:

Ø  Education is a process of getting knowledge in basic skills, academics, technical disciplines, accompanied with positive  attitude and values. the processing of knowledge is achieved through; inspiration, visionary ambitions, creativity, risk, motivation and the ability to bounce back from failure.

Ø  Democratic education is an educational ideal in which democracy is both a goal and a method of instruction. It brings democratic values to education. It includes self-determination within a community of equals, as well as such values as justice, respect and trust. Democratic education is often specifically emancipatory, with the students' voices being equal to the teacher's.

Ø  Liberal education : is a system or course of education suitable for the cultivation of a free human being "Ideally, a liberal education produces persons who are open-minded and free from provincialism, dogma, preconception, and ideology; conscious of their opinions and judgments; reflective of their actions; and aware of their place in the social and natural worlds.

Ø   I) Centralized-education system is a system of education which is managed at varying levels where by centralized government agency organizes, administers, finances and controls the formal and cultural aspects of education. Shortly, the laws, curricula, personnel, materials, and methods of instructions are generally determined in the central authority as the state or ministry.

Ø   Decentralized-education system is characterized by limited participation of central authorities. The all administrative power is vested in local school boards or educational boards, and most school boards.

Ø  Hybrid of centralized-education system and Decentralized-education system  national and local authorities shares administration and control duties of schools.

Ø  Adult education is a practice in which adult engage in systematic and sustained safe edn activities to gain new forms of knowledge, skills, attitudes or values.

Fomal education: the hierarchically structured, chronologically graded 'education system', running from primary school through the university and including, in addition to general academic studies, a variety of specialised programmes and institutions for full-time technical and professional training.

Informal education: the truly lifelong process whereby every individual acquires attitudes, values, skills and knowledge from daily experience and the educative influences and resources in his or her environment - from family and neighbours, from work and play, from the market place, the library and the mass media.

Non-formal education: any organised educational activity outside the established formal system - whether operating separately or as an important feature of some broader activity - that is intended to serve identifiable learning clienteles and learning objectives.

FACTORS INFLUENCING EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM OF THE COUNTRY.

in the study of comparative education we should study the factors which make the education of a country national. These factors include geographical, economic, social, cultural, historical, religions, political, language and technological. In this chapter we shall study some such factors; 

1) Geographical Factors.

In this regard the education system cum school system is influenced by the geography of the particular region. By and large the geography of a particular area dictates the type of building and equipment, means and methods of transporting children to school, school going age of pupils among others. However, there are three major geographical aspects that influence the educational system directly. These are, climatic conditions, population distribution and land configuration

ü  climatic conditions, In regard to climatic conditions they influence the system of education in terms of ,content of education depend on the continental climate, for example, training of doctors in the tropics is likely to emphasize more on tropical disease like malaria

ü  population distribution, Generally worldwide, population is either concentrated in the urban centers, or scattered in the country side. For example Australia has two systems of education, that is, one for the urban areas and the other for rural areas. In the urban areas there are well-equipped schools with adequately qualified teachers and administrative personnel. While in the rural areas, schools are small with one teacher for ten up to forty students. This is because farms are far from the nearest schools and daily attendance is difficult. Therefore the central government is responsible for their administration and financing. The government also provides the means and organization of correspondence, tuition and traveling teachers.

ü  land configuration, this also influences the education system in terms of architectural structure of farm houses, school buildings, village location and also the whole way of life and thinking of people because of the rigours of the climate, in some cases, because of closeness of family ties, boarding schools for children are non-existence, except for the few who come from far and inaccessible places on daily basis.

2) Economic Factors.

The economic factor determines the content and method of an education system. It is important to note that formal education is often possible where production exceeds consumption. In indigenous traditional education people were trained depending on the economic conditions and needs of the community. From an economic perspective, expenditure on education refers to the amount or percentage of national revenue spent on education by both individuals and the government. If the economic condition is poor, education becomes backward in many aspects while if the economy of a country is strong, then educational aims and the curriculum are given a special direction for making the country prosperous.

3) The Social and Cultural Factor.

the education system is usually seen as a social factor which must reflect the ethos of the people that it serves. In this regard, it is the prime aim of education to ensure cultural continuity through fostering the growth and development of national characteristics that often act as stabilizing forces. In its simplest definition a culture of a society is the total way of life of the society. Every society consist of human beings and in whatever state they find themselves they always have some kind of educational system. This form of education of the society will always strive to perpetuate and protect its traditions and aspirations. As such a close study and analysis of each education system will always reveal the cultural concept and pattern of the community in question. Also the social patterns of the people in any particular community or country are reflected in its system of education.

4) The Historical Factor.

Each country of the world has its own history that shapes the nations aims, aspirations, activities and destiny. This is often reflected through the educational system. Colonialism has been an important historical factor that can be said to have shaped the education system of many African countries and others in the world. For example, Christian missionaries in particular from Britain, France, Holland, Germany, Switzerland, and USA among others, have largely influenced the development of the education system in Africa. In this regard, the present systems of education in many countries of Africa, Asia, North and South America are actual products of past colonial influence.

5. Political Factor

There is also a close relationship between the national character and the national system of educationNationalism also as a political ideology influences the system of education in a country. Nationalism could be defined as a psychological feeling within a group which believes they have common outlook and traditions based on myth of common ancestry. The British colonial policy was based on the principle of decentralization and on the building up of a commonwealth of nations each of which should be free to develop its own culture and national character. Hence there is a close relationship between national character and national system of education and the former has been universally accepted as an important basis of national system of education.

) Language Factor

In every country the national language occupies a special place. Also every government tries to ensure that every one acquires the capacity to express himself through the national language. Without one's own national language, no country can be said to be strong. Language in itself is a symbol of the people. In the former British colonies, pupils were taught in their vernacular in the lower elementary or primary school curriculum. The French colonies put more emphasis on French as a medium of instruction. To date most of the inherited systems of education still suffer from the effect of the colonial masters in the school system and at large in the education system.

8) Technological Factors

With the emergence of computer technology, internet technology, this has revolutionalised the whole education system especially in the developed countries. Through information communication technology, home learning has been made possible. Universities are also adopting projects like AUV and e-learning. Today the influence of technology in education cannot be ignored. Indeed the use of information communication technology fully and be able to reap its maximum benefits in the education system especially in the developing world.

PURPOSE OF EDUCATION

An explosion of knowledge - the challenge of this is how this knowledge ought to be disseminated. This would imply that teachers have to acquire new roles.

Drive for knowledge world wide - a common phenomenon where everybody everywhere wants education both in the developed and developing world.

Drive for liberty through liberation struggles both political and ideological. Education has been at the centre of these struggles. This has also witnessed the emergence of education for the masses, for political, economic, cultural and intellectual liberalization.

Rapid urbanization and Industrialization which has greatly impacted on education.

Population explosion - this has led to population related problems. For example, in Kenya over 50% of the population is of school-going age. This means that their education and upkeep has to be catered for by a very small working population.

Increasing concern for quality education. There has been need to emphasis on education that is relevant to the life and needs of the students and the society they are to serve. This has created a lot of interest in education worldwide. Comparative educationists have been called upon by international agencies to help solve these myriad educational challenges.