The world itself and everything in it including life has an aim. Without a proper aim the direction is lost and without direction the functioning is not smooth. Therefore, for the effective functioning aim is to be fixed in advance for every activity, including Education. Education is not a single-aimed activity. It has multiplicity of aims.
Broadly the aims of education is classified into two types. They are:
- Individual aim of education.
- Social aim of education.
Individual aim of education as the name suggests believes that social institutions exist only to make the individual life better, fuller, richer, happier and more secure and therefore, more fruitful than would otherwise be possible. Individual aim believes that a child can bloom and blossom to the best of his individual capacity. Every individual has his/her own tendencies and education should help him/her to find out his/her innate powers. Thus, education aims at the development of individual as well as the society.
Social aim of education believes in the organismic theory of society. Education provides means for the students not for self-realization and self-expression, but rather for self-sacrifice for the greater glory of the society. Education of the individuals is subordinated to the State authority.
Specific aims of education:The aims of education is classified further into specific aims which includes,- Moral/Character Building: It is more important to have high morals and a strong character. These days the students must be taught these things. Highest love for man may be called as morality. Man is considered as a moral being and his education in the cultivation of socially approved behavior and better character. Moral qualities like justice, sincerity, honesty,tolerance,self-control etc make an individual socially efficient. Therefore, education for moral upliftment is emphasized. Among the philosophers, who emphasized education for character building- Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi, Pluto, Aristotle etc are the most popular.
- The Vocational Aim: It is realized by all that education is important not only to the presentation and transmission of culture but also an important instrument in all spheres social, economic, political and vocational. Vocational is considered as a fundamental aim of education. Vocational aim in education makes the student self-sufficient in life. This self-sufficiency develops satisfaction, mental and moral and self-confidence. Vocational aim makes education more purposeful activity. It bridges the gulf between upper and lower class. It gives benefit to children having lower intelligence. It strikes a balance between economic and industrial development.
- Citizenship as the aim of education: Human is a social animal. This aim of education caters the training for citizenship. Education should offer such experiences as would make one a good citizen of a democratic state. Education should provide an individual a certain training to fit in society and play different roles in life. As a citizen individual should know his role, his rights and should be conscious of his duties towards the society. Example- Running a school group or a library group and considering its necessity in a wider and more comprehensive way for the benefit of a society, or a nation.
- Complete living as the aim of education: In the middle of 19th century, Herbert Spencer felt that complete living as the aim of education. Education should teach an individual: How to earn a living? Prepare the pupils for social and political duties. Teach the art of self-presentation. Ensure survival by imparting knowledge about bearing and rearing children. It should equip one for the enjoyment of the refinement of culture, art, literature etc.
- Self-expression as an aim of education: The abilities of an individual remain dormant in childhood and it is the function of education to arouse them. The theory of self-expression compares the evolution of man with the germination process. From the seed the sapling arises and further changes to a tree. This change is not meaningless. This shows the innate power that works everywhere. This is also compared with the unfolding of man's mind and soul. Man carries the power of God in himself. Man is creative in nature. His genius, hopes, desires, aspirations etc can be understood only when they are expressed in reality. Self-expression leads to self-realization. Man has immense power and it need to be provoked and this innate power distinguished him from others. Education must help in bringing out this innate potential. Man has to express these talents through his own efforts and by harmonizing the different forces working in him. In the emerging Indian Society we need is these aims of education and later in the year 1964 the Education Commission was set up under the Chairmanship of Kothari.D.S. The commission in its recommendations emphasized on the followings aims of education with the rest of the aims discussed.
- Increasing productivity: This aim ensures the maximum utility of individuals for the betterment of the nation.
- Achieving social and national integration: Besides strengthening the nation, education is also responsible for integrating the nation. It should bring a feeling of oneness and nationalism and a spirit of sacrifice and tolerance. The basis of national integration is emotional integration. A feeling of national pride and faith in the nation's greatness.
- Accelerating the process of modernization: Modernization is a process of change from traditional and quasi-traditional order to certain desired types of technology. It aims at bringing about desirable changes in the social structure, values and the social norms.
- Cultivating social, moral and spiritual values: This aim includes educating the individual the values example- brotherhood, etiquette, cooperativeness, tolerance, service to others, sympathy, sharing, helpfulness, gratitude, dignity of labor, sense of belonging, liberty, gentleness, love, non-violence, fear of God and feeling of a supreme power.
