Education Fundamentals: Concepts, Development, and Institutions

What is the Meaning of Education?

The word 'Education' is derived from two Latin words: Educare and Educere.

The word Educare means 'to bring up' or 'to raise'. The word Educere means 'to draw out' or 'to lead out'.

These meanings indicate that education seeks to nurture good qualities in a child and draw out the hidden talents in every individual.

Defining Education

• Education is the delivery of knowledge, skills, and information from teachers to students, crucial for becoming an educator.
• Education is a systematic process through which a child or an adult acquires knowledge, experience, skills, and a sound attitude.
• Education is also defined as the process of bringing positive change into the behavior of human beings.

What is Formal Education?

Formal education is structured learning provided in specific educational institutions by qualified teachers, following a defined curriculum. It is typically regular and full-time, encompassing all government and private schools, colleges, and universities.

Understanding Non-Formal Education

Non-formal education is a purposeful activity that occurs outside the traditional formal educational system. It is usually flexible, student-centered, and often part-time.

Examples include distance education offered by institutions like Allama Iqbal Open University, virtual universities, and private tuition.

What is Informal Education?

Informal education is neither regular nor structured. It is a lifelong process where an individual acquires knowledge through daily observation and experience from family, friends, workplaces, playgrounds, markets, libraries, the internet, and other informal settings.

Knowledge vs. Education: Key Differences

Imam Ghazali's Definition of Education

Imam Ghazali defines education as a means to draw closer to Allah Almighty. He also states that a person who seeks knowledge solely for social status cannot save themselves from the wrath of Allah Almighty.

Imam Abu Hanifa's View on Education

Imam Abu Hanifa emphasizes that education should be acquired with the purpose of practicing it, as education without application is useless. He states that after gaining education, an individual should be able to distinguish between good and evil and choose the right path for the eternal life of the hereafter.

Shah Waliullah's Perspective on Education

Shah Waliullah defines education as a process that helps an individual promote natural perception through training, ultimately achieving the highest level of servitude to Allah.

Why Reconstruct Culture and Civilization?

No society can survive without the preservation and continuation of its cultural heritage. Education fulfills this duty. Through education, society protects its civilization and culture, transmitting it to future generations. Education plays a vital role in building and developing both civilization and culture.

Education's Role in Social Progress

The most important duty of education is to reconstruct social life; otherwise, society cannot progress. Without it, society might resemble how it was thousands of years ago, when humans lived in forests and caves, unable to imagine today's luxurious life. Culture is always evolving and never static. Each society adopts many elements from other societies. Today's rapidly changing life is largely due to education.

Scope of Education as an Academic Discipline

The Ministry of Education in Pakistan has introduced education as an academic discipline. It is an elective subject from matriculation to graduation. A significant number of students have shown interest in this field. Many universities now offer M.A., M.Phil., and Ph.D. degrees in the discipline of education. Education encompasses a body of knowledge about learning and teaching, and it is also considered a professional degree.

Importance of Education as a Discipline

1. Helps understand the foundations of education.
2. Facilitates monitoring of educational administration.
3. Provides guidelines for teachers on curriculum delivery.
4. Informs on developing student personalities at various age levels.
5. Aids in the formulation of educational policy.
6. Helps understand and address student educational problems.

Is Education a Science or an Art?

Education is both a science and an art. It is a science because it seeks to solve educational problems through research based on observation and experimentation. Education is also an art because teachers utilize artistic qualities and adapt teaching pedagogies to various situations to achieve desired learning outcomes.

Core Functions of Education

There are three main functions of education:

1. Preservation and transmission of culture.
2. Reconstruction of culture.
3. Fulfillment of individual needs.

Five Essential Individual Needs

1. Physical needs
2. Self-identification
3. Knowledge for good citizenship
4. Cognitive needs
5. Social needs

Defining Cultural Heritage

Our ideology, way of life, literature, art, crafts, traditions, dress, values, and relationships collectively form our culture. Furthermore, the knowledge, skills, and values we receive from our parents and elders are also included in our cultural heritage.

Every nation and society aims to preserve, transmit, and reconstruct its culture to ensure societal progress. For this purpose, various institutions are established by nations and societies.

Preparing New Generations in Ancient Times

In ancient times, life was much simpler. Children learned the same things their parents did, an informal method of learning. Boys typically learned trades that provided food, shelter, and clothing, acquiring knowledge, skills, and values from their fathers and elders. Mothers, on the other hand, trained their daughters in household affairs and childcare.

Demerits of Blindly Following Cultural Heritage

1. Hinders acquisition of new knowledge.
2. Leads to societal stagnation.
3. Keeps society bound to past practices.
4. Prevents progress in all aspects of life.
5. Stifles the desire for change and innovation.

Defining Growth

According to Anderson, 'Growth is an increase in height, weight, structure, and brain. These changes are quantitative in nature and can be measured. They occur throughout the body and are generally irreversible.'

According to Chauhan, 'Growth indicates an increase in bodily dimensions, height, and weight, and is generally confined to quantitative changes.'

Defining Development

According to Woolfolk, 'Development refers to certain changes that occur in human beings between conception and death. These changes appear in orderly ways and persist for a reasonably long period of time.'

Key Aspects of Human Development

There are four main aspects of development:

1. Physical Development: An increase in body size, length, height, and weight.
2. Cognitive Development: The ability to think, learn, and remember.
3. Social Development: Interaction and relationship of an individual with society.
4. Emotional Development: Feelings and emotional responses of an individual in different situations.

Stages of Human Development

A human child progresses through several developmental stages from birth to death. Psychologists have categorized development into the following four stages:

1. Infancy: This period spans from 0 to 2 years.
2. Early Childhood: This period lasts from 2 to 6 years.
3. Childhood: This period extends from 6 to 12 years.
4. Adolescence: This stage is typically attained from 12 to 18 years.

Growth vs. Development: A Comparison

Infancy Defined (0-2 Years)

During this phase, the newborn primarily depends on soft meals for development. This period extends from 0 to 2 years. Infants learn to walk without support and speak short sentences during this developmental stage.

Early Childhood Defined (2-6 Years)

This phase extends from 2 to 6 years of a human child's life. It is a time of remarkable physical growth, and brain development is at its peak during this stage.

Childhood Defined (6-12 Years)

This phase extends from 6 to 12 years of a human child's life. During this stage, children continue to grow rapidly and begin to develop fine motor skills.

Adolescence Defined (12-18 Years)

Adolescence is the period of life in which an individual matures into a young adult. This period typically extends from 12 to 18 years. During this stage, boys and girls undergo significant physical changes, becoming complete men and women, respectively. Their physical structure changes proportionally, and height increases rapidly. The onset of adolescence can also depend on a child's geographical and social conditions.

What is Learning?

Learning means acquiring new knowledge, skills, and values. Learning is universal; all living things learn, with humans learning the most. It is a fundamental and core activity that occurs daily in every school on Earth. Learning is a lifelong process; all human beings learn at any time, anywhere, and at any age. As Muslims, there is a clear instruction in Hadith: 'Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.'

Formal Definitions of Learning

According to Witting and Hilgard, 'Learning is a systematic, relatively permanent change in behavior due to experience or practice.'

According to Crow & Crow, 'Learning is the process by which an individual acquires knowledge, attitudes, and skills that are necessary to meet the demands of life.'

Understanding Individual Differences

According to Carter B. Good, 'Individual differences refer to the variations or deviations among individuals in regard to single characteristics or a number of characteristics.'

According to Osborne, 'Individual differences are dissimilarities between persons that distinguish them from one another.'

Physical and Natural Changes Explained

Changes that occur automatically are called natural changes. We cannot stop them, and they do not need to be learned. For example, a person feels hungry, thirsty, sleepy, and physical organs begin to move after maturity.

Impact of Learning on Human Character

1. Knowledge
2. Skills
3. Emotional stability and behavior

Hindrances Affecting Learning

1. Physical unfitness
2. Lack of intelligence
3. Unfavorable home environment
4. Negative emotions (e.g., anger, criminal tendencies)

Examples of Physical Differences

1. Weak eyesight
2. Physical handicaps
3. Loss of hearing ability
4. Malnutrition

Types of Social Differences

1. Economic status
2. Lifestyle
3. Interpersonal relationships
4. Social status

Levels of Intelligence

There are three general levels of intelligence:

1. Gifted intellect
2. Average intellect
3. Below average intellect

Impact of Physical Condition on Learning

According to Aristotle, 'A sound mind in a sound body.' Research indicates that students with good health are better learners compared to children with poor health. A healthy child is more likely to pay attention to studies and actively participate in co-curricular activities.

Conversely, students suffering from physical problems such as vision impairment, hearing loss, malnutrition, or physical handicaps may struggle to participate effectively in curricular and co-curricular activities.

Influence of Home Environment on Child Development

The home is the first school where children begin their initial learning. The home environment plays a vital role in a child's physical, mental, emotional, and moral development. Every child is born with certain capabilities, and a conducive home environment—characterized by proper care, attention, respect, friendly behavior from parents and other family members, and timely provision of learning materials and educational assistance—will help boost these capabilities.

Conversely, an uneasy home environment, marked by quarrels, insulting behavior from parents and other family members, family disputes, or divorce, can create numerous problems for children.

Physical Differences and Learning Impact

Individuals differ in their physical development, both structurally and functionally. These differences are evident in height, weight, body structure, hair and skin color, physical strength, and precision. While many of these differences do not directly affect learning, certain physical conditions can significantly impact the learning process:

1. A student with vision problems may not be able to see things clearly.
2. A student with a hearing problem may not be able to hear the teacher.
3. A student suffering from malnutrition may struggle to focus actively in the classroom.
4. Physically challenged students may face difficulties participating in co-curricular activities, which are crucial for a child's holistic development.

Understanding Learning Differences

Everyone is unique, and each individual has a different learning profile and speed due to several factors:

1. Varying levels of learning and understanding among individuals.
2. Differences in task completion speed; some students finish earlier than others.
3. Diverse methods of learning and memorization among students.
4. The impact of different learning environments on students.
5. Research shows that students in the same class, with the same instructors, materials, workload, course duration, and environment, often achieve different grades. This is attributed to individual learning techniques and styles.

Defining the Role of Home

The home is the first school where children begin their initial learning. The mother and other family members often play the role of teachers. The home fosters love, respect, integrity, and a sense of belonging in the child. It provides informal education, where a child learns etiquette, respect for others, honesty, cooperation, and many other positive values.

Defining the Role of School

A school is a place or building used for educating students under the guidance of teachers. It serves as a child's second home and is operated by members of society. Schools provide formal education and implement measures to develop students' personalities in all dimensions through curricular and co-curricular activities.

What is a Community?

A community is a group of people living together in a fixed territory, sharing a common culture, language, religion, and way of life, and possessing a strong sense of belonging. It can be a settlement, village, city, tribe, or nation. For example, a local community.

Defining Society

A society is a large group of people who share interpersonal relationships, common values, norms, and a common ideology and identity. For example, Pakistani society.

Home and School Relationship

Home and school work together for the welfare of children. The home supports the school in several ways:

1. The home serves as the basic training center for children.
2. It monitors school activities.
3. It provides valuable assistance to the school in curriculum and policy development.
4. It helps guide the school in resolving student problems.

School's Role in Home-Student Relationships

The school plays an important role in fostering a good relationship between the home and the student by:

1. Helping children adopt proper attitudes towards their home.
2. Striving to resolve differences between the home and the student.
3. Creating harmony between the home and students.

School and Society: An Interconnected Relationship

The school acts as an agent of society, sharing common goals and objectives. Society cannot perform all the functions that a school can. Schools transmit cultural values from one generation to another and provide leadership to society through curricular and co-curricular activities.

Role of Punjab Textbook Board (PTBB)

1. The PTBB is an autonomous body operating under the Ministry of Education, Punjab.
2. Once a curriculum draft is approved by the Ministry of Education, Punjab, it reaches the PTBB. It then becomes the PTBB's responsibility to publish and print standard textbooks for students from classes 1 to 12 at affordable prices.

Functions of Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE)

BISE is responsible for:

1. Prescribing courses of study for its examinations.
2. Holding and conducting all examinations from classes 9^th to 12^th.
3. Granting certificates and diplomas upon successful completion of its examinations.
4. Enabling degree holders to apply for jobs and higher education.

Role of National Book Foundation (NBF)

The National Book Foundation (NBF) office is established in Islamabad. This foundation is responsible for:

Printing expensive foreign books, especially those related to medical, engineering, and financial fields, and providing them at low prices to college and university students.

Role of Higher Education Commission (HEC) Pakistan

The HEC is an independent, autonomous institution that provides facilities to promote research in higher education in Pakistan through the following means:

1. Overseeing and regulating higher education in Pakistan.
2. Providing scholarships to students for pursuing higher education abroad annually.
3. Offering funds and technical support to universities for research initiatives.
4. Verifying and attesting university degrees.