Concept of Education
Philosophically, education can be described in three ways:
a) Education as a process
b) Education as a product
c) Education as a discipline
Education as a process
Education as a process is the activity of preserving, developing and transmitting the
culture of a people from one generation to another. As a process, education is an activity rather
than a concept. It is the activity of continuous all round development of the individual for life in
the society.
Education as a product
Education as a product refers to the change, whether overt or covert, implicit or explicit,
which education is supposed to bring about. In this wise, the end product of education is
supposed to be an educated man, who has the intellectual and moral strength to make the world a
better place to live.
Education as a discipline
Education as a discipline, here education in seen as a body of systematic organized
knowledge. It is an integral body of knowledge, which has a distinct existence different from
other branches of knowledge. These branches of knowledge could be psychology, history,
philosophy, sociology and some practical studies. The focus of education is to enable the would-
be teacher to develop the habit of critical thinking in him and by presenting education as a
thinking/problem solving process.
Generally speaking, the term education is dynamic as well as a comprehensive concept to
understand. To understand this abstract concept clearly, we must bear in mind that the term
education has very wide connotation. This is partly due to the fact that the meaning of education
gets influenced to a large extent by the philosophies of great thinkers in different societies and in
different context. This means that attempts have been made by so many individuals and
educators to explain what education means to an individual and to the society.
In the words of Sumanta (2018), “education assures survival of the human race,
maintains its intellectual and cultural tradition and helps in developing enlightened civilization
for human well-being and economic development that history has witnessed and observed
through ages”. This by implication means that unlike other creatures, humans are capable of
learning and of being educated. The necessity of education in human life and existence has
assumed much greater and broder significance in modern times. During the earlier ages of
civilization, the human child needed to learn much less to lead an effective life as well as a
responsible citizen.
Originally the word education is derived from two Latin words – Educare and Educere.
The former means “to bring up or to nourish” while, the latter means “to draw out or to
manifest”. Therefore, education here will be described as the act or process of imparting or
acquiring general knowledge, developing the power of reasoning and judgment, and generally of
preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life.
Again, education brings a natural and lasting change in an individual’s reasoning and
ability to achieve the targeted goal he set for himself. It facilitates us to investigate our own
considerations and thoughts and makes it ready to express it in various shapes which form a
person’s philosophy of life.
Type of Education
The term education as emphasized earlier goes beyond what takes places within the four
walls of the classroom and school. A child equally gets education from his experiences outside
the school which can come in form of interactions with his immediate environment or society.
There are four main types of education, namely: Traditional, Formal, Informal and Non-formal
which will briefly be discussed below.
Traditional Education
Indigenous or traditional education is the oral transmission of people’s statements of
belief, rules and customs from one generation to another. This form of education is as old as man
himself; because no society exist without the transmission of its culture from older to new
generation.
Formal Education
Formal education also known as formal learning usually takes place in the premises of
the school, where a person may learn basic, academic, or trade skills. Children often attend a
nursery or kindergarten but often formal education begins in elementary school and continues
with secondary school. Post-secondary education (or higher education) is usually at a college or
university which may grant an academic degree. It is associated with a specific stage and is
provided under a certain set of rules and regulations.
The formal education is given by specially qualified teachers they are supposed to be
efficient in the art of instruction. It also observes strict discipline. The student and the teacher
both are aware of the facts and engage themselves in the process of education.
Informal Education
Informal education is when one is not studying in a school and do not use any particular
learning method. In this type of education, conscious efforts are not involved in the part of the
learner and the teacher. It is neither pre-planned nor deliberate. It may be learned at some
marketplace, workshop or at home. Unlike formal education, informal education is not imparted
by an institution such as school or college, the curriculum is not planed and deliberate. Informal
education is not given according to any fixed timetable. There is no set curriculum required. It
consists of experiences and actually living in the family or community.
Non-formal Education
Non-formal education includes adult basic education, adult literacy education or school
equivalency preparation. In non-formal education, someone (who is not in school) can learn
literacy, other basic skills or job skills. Home education, individualized instruction (such as
programmed learning), distance learning and computer-assisted instruction are other
possibilities.
Non-formal education is imparted consciously and deliberately and systematically
implemented. It should be organized for a homogeneous group i.e. same group. Non-formal,
education should be programmed to serve the needs of the identified group. This will necessitate
flexibility in the design of the curriculum and the scheme of evaluation.
SOME BASIC CONCEPT IN EDUCATION ( PROCESSES)
Teaching
Teaching can be defined as engagement with learners to enable their understanding and
application of knowledge, concepts and processes. It includes design, content selection,
delivery, assessment and reflection. To teach is to engage students in learning; thus teaching
consists of getting students involved in the active construction of knowledge. A teacher requires
not only knowledge of subject matter, but knowledge of how students learn and how to transform
them into active learners. Good teaching, then, requires a commitment to systematic
understanding of learning. The aim of teaching is not only to transmit information, but also to
transform students from passive recipients of other people's knowledge into active constructors
of their own and others' knowledge. The teacher cannot transform without the student's active
participation, of course. Teaching is fundamentally about creating the pedagogical, social, and
ethical conditions under which students agree to take charge of their own learning, individually
and collectively.
Training
According to Wikipedia, the term training is described as teaching, or developing in
oneself or others, any skills and knowledge or fitness that relate to specific useful competencies.
Training has specific goals of improving one's capability, capacity, productivity and
performance. It forms the core of apprenticeships and provides the backbone of content at
institutes of technology (also known as technical colleges or polytechnics). In addition to the
basic training required for a trade, occupation or profession, training may continue beyond initial
competence to maintain, upgrade and update skills throughout working life. People within some
professions and occupations may refer to this sort of training as professional development.
Training also refers to the development of physical fitness related to a specific competence, such
as sport, martial arts, military applications and some other occupations.
Instruction
Instruction is vital for education, as it is the transfer of learning from one person to
another. Any time you are given directions or told how to do something you are receiving
instruction. it is further defined as the transfer of learning from one person to another. This is an
activity that has to do with imparting knowledge or skill from an expert to a less experience
person. Instruction is the facilitation of another’s learning. Instructors in primary and secondary
institutions are called teachers, and they direct the education of students and might draw on many
subjects like reading, writing, mathematics, science and history. Instructors in post-secondary
institutions might be called teachers, instructors, or professor depending on the type of institution
and primarily teach only their specific discipline.
Indoctrination
The term indoctrination typically means 'to instruct or to teach'. It can be understood as
teaching or inculcating a particular set of beliefs, ideas or attitude on an individual or a group,
without allowing any possibility of question or challenge against it. Indoctrination refers to the
intent to impose ideas or beliefs upon people in areas that ultimately call for individual
reflection, decision-making, and choice. It is a distasteful activity because it is aimed at limiting
the individual’s ability to think and choose.
Cultivation
Particularly for personal development, cultivation means developing positive mindset or
a healthy lifestyle which requires consistent practice and dedication. It involves actively seeking
out opportunities for growth and learning, and taking deliberate steps to improve oneself over
time.
It can also be described as socialization through training and education to develop one's
mind or manners. Cultivation is not just about what you know; it’s about how you apply what
you know. It involves how you treat others, how you solve problems, and how you make
appropriate decisions in various situations. Cultivation is more about your character traits, such
as honesty, kindness, and tolerance, rather than just your academic achievements.
Facilitation
Facilitation is a technique used by trainers to help learners acquire, retain, and apply knowledge
and skills. Participants are introduced to content and then ask questions while the trainer fosters
the discussion, takes steps to enhance the experience for the learners, and gives suggestions.
It is the act of engaging participants in creating, discovering, and applying learning
insights. In contrast to presentation, which is typically characterized by a “sage on the stage”
delivering content to an audience, facilitation usually involves a “guide on the side” who asks
questions, moderates discussions, introduces activities, and helps participants learn. This
necessary and evolving skill is particularly important for talent development professionals who
conduct in-person or virtual training, but other professionals can also use it to facilitate team
projects, task forces, committees, and meetings of any type.
Mentoring
Mentoring in education involves pairing young people with an older peer or adult
volunteer, who acts as a positive role model. In general, mentoring aims to build confidence and
relationships, to develop resilience and character, or raise aspirations, rather than to develop
specific academic skills or knowledge. Mentoring is the process of serving as a mentor, someone
who facilitates and assists another’s development. The process includes modeling because the
mentor must be able to model the messages and suggestions being taught to the beginning
teacher (Gay, 1995). The mentoring process includes coaching as an instructional technique used
in endeavors such as sports or apprenticeship at the work place. In addition, To be effective, the
mentor must be able to demonstrate a range of cognitive coaching competencies, such as posing
carefully constructed questions to stimulate reflection, paraphrasing, probing, using wait-time,
and collecting and using data to improve teaching and learning.
Imparting
Simply put, imparting means to make known; tell; relate; disclose; to impart a secret or
knowledge. Knowledge opens the door leading to wisdom. Imparting knowledge is not just an
art, it is also science. The masters of this art form can create a highly respectable profession for
themselves by becoming teachers, professors, or educators. Our primary source of knowledge is
from schools, where our teachers make us capable enough to let ourselves get afloat in the ocean
of golden opportunities. Their way of imparting knowledge follows a complex, yet systematic
combination of teaching and preaching, i.e., not only do they shape our heads but also our hearts.
Teaching information for better understanding along with preaching values that lead us to several
important revelations, can go a long way to let students be a better individual. Imparting
knowledge is of immense responsibility for every teacher as they are supposed to be the example
that they wish to teach to their students. The work of an educator is not easy; it is rather quite
difficult. Working meticulously every single day is a commendable aspect of any teacher. Even
when they need to teach the same set of concepts year after year, their enthusiasm towards
teaching any topic never diminishes. A rare attribute that is never found in abundance, patience
is the virtue that every teacher has innately present in them.
The Evolution and Tenets of Developmentalism, Goals, Aims, Objectives of Nigerian
Education
September 8-12, 1969, provided an important landmark in the educational development in
Nigeria. Under the auspices of the Nigeria Educational Research Council (NERC), the search for
a philosophy for Nigerian education was commenced in a National Curriculum Conference. The
Conference was to deliberate on the objectives of education for Nigeria, covering primary,
secondary and tertiary levels of education, teacher education, education for women, education
for living, science and technology in national development. The conference was initiated,
planned and executed by Nigerians, with participation by people, including non- Nigerians, from
different walks of life. In its search for a national philosophy of education, the conference was to
review the old and identify new goals for education in Nigeria, as well as providing guidelines
on what the system should be accomplishing with respect to:
I. The needs of youths and adult individuals in our society.
II. The socio-economic needs, values, aspirations and development of our society.
III. . The curriculum substance, the subject content of the system which is the means to the
goals (Okeke, 2003).
The education system in vogue at the time was described to be inadequate because it
neglected the social and cultural background of the Nigerian society. It tended to produce an
educated class of pen pusher (it was elitist); and it also failed to lay the foundations of economic
freedom because it made no provisions for the means of acquiring manual skills and expertise
necessary for successful industrial and agricultural development. The conference, therefore,
deliberated on the means of achieving economic independence, national unity and integration,
cultural awareness, values and good education.
Bearing the purpose of the conference in mind which was to review old and identify new
national goals for education at all levels, and provide guidelines on what our education system
should be accomplishing, “the objectives of Nigerian education were, thus, formulated into a
national philosophy as follows:
1. The inculcation of national consciousness and national unity.
2. The inculcation of the right type of values and attitudes for the survival of the individual
and of the Nigerian Society.
3. The training of the mind in understanding of the world around us.
4. The acquisition of appropriate skills, abilities and competences, both mental and physical,
as equipment for the individual to live in and contribute to the development of his
society.
Through the attainment of these objectives, self-realization, effective citizenship, better
human relations, national consciousness, national unity, self and economic efficiency, social and
political progress, scientific and technological progress, national reconstruction could be
achieved through education.
The above philosophy of education is based on the national philosophy which aims at
making Nigeria:
A united, strong and self-reliant nation
A great and dynamic economy.
A just and egalitarian society.
A land of bright and full opportunities for all citizens, and
A free and democratic society. Denga, (1986) as cited in Aloysius, Geoffrey, Ezewuzie &
Anyaeji (2021)
