Original scientific paper

What are the key roles of education?

Silvia Rogošić ; University of Zagreb, Faculty of Teacher Education, Department of Philosophy and Sociology, Zagreb, Croatia
Ana Maskalan ; Institute for Social Research in Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Aleta Jurki ; Kindergarten Savica, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The position of education in society depends to a certain degree on the public opinion
about what education should provide to an individual and the social community.1 In fact,
in addition to the humanistic aim of education implying a versatile (complete, harmonious)
or self-actualising development of an individual,2 the scientists often emphasise the social,
political, and economic purpose of education. Thus, education, for example, has a very
important role in ensuring economic and social progress and improving the distribution of
income.3 In addition, the educational system is also viewed as a social agent that transfers the
norms and values important for the preservation of a stable political system.4 Although there
is abundant theoretical literature exploring these approaches and analysing them in detail,
there is a lack of empirical research on how individuals perceive the importance of certain
educational roles and what factors determine their points of view. It is particularly important
to examine the opinion of teachers on educational roles because they have an impact on the
shaping of educational policies and pedagogical practices. Therefore, quantitative research
was conducted on a sample of preschool teachers in the City of Zagreb (N = 481). The aim
of this research is to examine which educational goals are prioritised by preschool teachers in
terms of the main purpose of education and to provide empirical insights into the correlation
of certain characteristics of the respondents (socio-demographic characteristics and religious
affiliation) and their perception of the purpose of education. The findings show that the majority of respondents agree that education should primarily serve the development of a free
and independent individual. Apart from the mentioned purpose of education, the respondents
believe that the achievement of other goals through education (e.g., ensuring a healthy and
stable family) is also important, while the meeting of economic and political interests (e.g.
interests pertaining to capital and the European Union) is a less important educational goal.
The results of the ANOVA test show that the respondents from smaller towns believe to a
greater extent that education should serve the development of human resources of the local
community and labour market interests, whereas the non-religious and religiously unaffiliated
respondents emphasise the role of education in the development of a free and independent
individual and the emancipation of individuals from discriminated social groups slightly
more than the religious respondents. Older respondents believe, to a greater extent than the
younger ones, that education should primarily serve the interests of capital.

Keywords

key roles of education, preschool teachers, socio-demographic characteristics, religious (non)affiliation

Hrčak ID:

251618

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/251618

Publication date:

24.12.2020.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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