Factors Determining the Aims of Education
Education is a living process which rests on many pillars such as geographical, philosophical, political, social, economic, moral and cultural environments. As a result, we have a number of factors which contribute to the determination of educational aims. These factors touch almost every phase of human life. A.K.C.Ottaway has stated, "Education is an activity which goes on in a society and its aims and methods depend on the society in which it takes place". The important factor, which determines the aims of education are discussed in the succeeding lines.(a) Philosophy of life
(b) Psychological factor
(c) Geographical factors
(d) Political factors
(e) Economic factors
(f) Social factors
(g) Religious factors
(h) Cultural factors
(i) Environmental factors
(j) Knowledge factors
(a) Philosophy of life
The prevailing philosophy of life is the most important factor of determining educational aims. Professor Whitehead says, "One of the subject matters of education is life". Hence, aims of education should have a close relationship with the prevailing philosophy of life and the views of eminent thinkers and philosophers about the nature of reality. The idealistic view of life regards spirituality and God as the supreme reality. According to this view, education aims at self-realization and exaltation of human personality or unfolding of the latent potential in the child. The naturalists believe that the external physical existence is real and instincts, emotions and feelings of man are his real self-realisation. On the basis of this view, education aims at self-expression. The pragmatists consider life as a process of socialisation of an individual. Therefore, education should aim at enabling the individual to control his environment and fulfil his possibilities.
(b) Psychological factor
Psychologists have different views about human nature. In fact, it is composed of heterogeneous elements, rational and non-rational, intellect, emotions, man's animal self and his spiritual self. Educational aims, therefore, have often been decided keeping in view one or the other element, which comprises human nature. Thus, aims of education have been decided on the basis of the concept of human nature. From the psychological point of view, idealists want that education should aim at unfolding the divine in the child and man. But naturalists consider that education should aim at developing `self-expression' in the child. Pragmatists think that education should aim at the development of the social efficiency in a child.
(c) Geographical factors
Geographical factors play an important role in deciding the aims of education from the ancient period. For example, education in Sparta aimed at developing physical strength, courage, endurance and obedience in order to train the Spartan youth to protect the state from foreign aggression. The same aim was emphasised in Germany and Italy to make the countries strong enough to face the World War. India emphasises spiritual and vocational aims of education to enable its citizens to stand on their own feet and lead a holy life.
(d) Political factors
The political factors like democracy, totalitarianism, communism, socialism, mixed economy, capitalism and fascism go a long way in determining the aims and the system of education. As a result, there are different aims of education. The history of the world has proved that the political factors or ideologies have a great impact in determining the aims of education. For example, India is a democratic country where democratic values are emphasised. Therefore, education aims at the development of democratic values. In other words, its aims are to develop the full personality of each individual irrespective of caste, creed and religion. On the other hand, there is no place for individual development in a communist society.
(e) Economic factors
The aims of education are influenced by economic factors. Formal education is possible in an economy where production exceeds consumption. The aim of education predominates bread and butter when an individual is basically concerned with earning a livelihood. For example, our country had to increase the production of goods and services as the consequence of the growth of population, urbanization and industrialization. In this condition, the important aim of education is increasing productivity. This objective of education has also been emphasized by the Indian Education Commission during 1964-1966, in order to make our nation self-sufficient in production. In this way, educational aims have been determined by the economic factors.
(f) Social factors
These factors also play a considerable role in determining the educational aim in the scientific age. The tremendous explosion of science and technology has created intricate problems of social adjustment among the individuals. Therefore, new emphasis has been placed on literacy and social activities through re-organizing the curricula at all stages. The new forces in the social structure of the Indian Society have provided a fresh incentive for educationists to frame new aims for education.
(g) Religious factors
Religion is an important factor which affects the aims of education in our country. For instance, the Brahmanic system of education, the Buddhist education and the Mohammedian education were dominated by religion. In the same way, the aims of education in the western countries were influenced by Protestant and Catholic religions. In fact, the development of moral and spiritual values has been fixed as the aim of modern education.
(h) Cultural factors
The aims of education of a country are also influenced by its cultural factors. We know that every country has its own cultures and it wants to preserve, promote and transmit the culture for the benefit of the succeeding generations. Education is the only instrument by which our culture can be preserved, promoted and transmitted, for the progress of mankind. As a result, preservation, promotion and transmission of cultural heritage, have become important aims of present education.
(i) Environmental factors
Environment also plays a significant role in determining the aims of education in the recent years. Environment constitutes everything that surrounds us. Since we are a part of it, the study of environment and its crisis has drawn the attention of educationists, thinkers, political leaders, scientists, social reformers, workers and illiterates. The detrimental growths of population, deforestation, industrialisation and urbanisation have been the causes of environmental degradation, which is harmful to all living organisms. In this condition, every child should have knowledge of his environment and its crisis, and how to overcome it. Education is the only source through which environmental awareness and measures to control the environmental crisis can be inculcated in the child's mind. Thus, the development of environmental awareness is an important aim of education in the industrialized society.
(j) Knowledge factors
Explosion of knowledge in science and technology has a great impact on education and it is one of the determinant factors of educational aims. Education, all over the world, has become science oriented due to the explosion of science and technical knowledge. Therefore, the study of modern science and technology and mathematics is being emphasized in almost all stages of education. The government provides liberal grants and scholarships in order to encourage the study of modern science for the progress of our country. The Indian Education Commission has stressed the study of science and mathematics while formulating the aims of education in India. As a result, the study of science and technology has been an important aim of our present education.