Societal Perceptions and Interpretations of Education: Societal Responses and Characteristics of the Education System.

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M A K E R E R E   U N I V E R S I T Y

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION - DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

M A K E R E R E   U N I V E R S I T Y

SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

SOCIOLOGY OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Topic

Societal Perceptions and Interpretations of Education:

Societal Responses and Characteristics of the Education System.

Assignment Question

The way society perceives and interprets education determines the societal responses to education and consequently the characteristics of the education system.

Discuss the implications of this statement to the

Educational Managers in Uganda.

Submitted by

ZIRABA ABDALLAH – M Ed ICT


The way society perceives and interprets education determines the social responses to education and consequently the characteristics of the education system.

Discuss the implications of this statement to the Educational Managers in Uganda.

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  1. General

How do social institutions and individuals' experiences within these institutions affect educational processes and social development?  In an increasingly complex society, important educational issues arise throughout the life cycle.

Schools are affected by the times. They are part of social systems, they are institutions created to meet human needs. As needs change, as lags, confusions, and conflicts develop, these conditions will be reflected in the schools and in the way various segments of the public view the schools.  Three areas are of paramount importance: what is happening to the communities; what are the effects on young people and on schools; and how can teachers, school heads, and others prepare themselves to deal with the problems with which they must cope.

  1. Definitions

Throughout this document, the expressions hereunder (1.1 to 1.7) will have the following meanings.

  1. Societal Perception

Perception refers to the processes through which we use available information to form impressions.  Information is selected, organized and interpreted to form a meaning.

Perceptions can be flawed and therefore lead to wrong conclusions. Once formed, wrong impressions are likely to persist.  Within education, the influence of such an education system on members of that society will be such that they will not be the ideal person the education system aims to create.

Perception is not universal. Different societies may have different perceptions of the same subject.  Necessarily therefore, different societies have different perceptions and interpretations of education.

  1. Societal Interpretation

Interpretation is defined as a particular adaptation or version of a work, method, or style or the act of giving meaning or significance to something.

  1. Societal Response

A response is a reply or a reaction to stimuli. Societal response in this case will refer to the way society reacts to the perception and interpretation of education.

  1. Education System

Education System largely refers to the formal institutions, agencies, and organizations of a country that transmit knowledge and cultural heritage and that influence the social and intellectual growth of the individuals. This includes legislation and policy making, administration, facility maintenance, curriculum planning, and teacher preparation and selection.

  1. Education Characteristics

A characteristic is a distinguishing trait, quality, or property, the integral part of, a feature that helps to identify, tell apart, or describe recognizably.  What are the characteristics of the educational systems as a result of societal perception and interpretation; the features that distinguish it from other educational systems.

  1. Educational Management

The whole system of conducting and directing educational affairs through the deployment and manipulation of resources (human, financial, material, intellectual or intangible).

  1. Educational Manager – Who are they?

These are the people who control and direct the education sector.  This therefore includes about everybody – ministry officials, head teachers, teachers, parents, etc.

  1. What are the Societal Perceptions and Interpretations and Resulting Characteristics of the Education System in Uganda?

The Functionalist Theory relates education to the economy, social mobility, and political order.  These dictate/determine the kind of education the society will adopt.

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  1. Political

The political order determines what society adopts. Educational programs are not perceived as a social service managed by educationists but a political tool managed by politicians.

Resources are channeled from other social sectors e.g. health, etc to support the educational (read political) programs. Education accounts for 30 per cent of the national budget and 65 per cent of that goes towards primary education.

The system is characterized by political interference - for example a poor performing but pro-establishment headmaster may not be questioned about the continued poor results of his school or dubious accountability for financial resources released ...

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