DAMODARAM SANJIVAYYA

NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY

SABBAVARAM, VISAKHAPATNAM, A.P., INDIA

PROJECT TITLE
EDUCATION AS A SOCIAL INSTITUTE

SUBJECT
SOCIOLOGY

NAME OF THE FACULTY/PROFESSOR

Dr. Ganta Satyanarayana
Name of the Candidate
SARTHAK PANT

Roll No: 21LLB138

Semester 1

1
 CERTIFICATE
I, SARTHAK PANT, hereby declare that this project titled “Education As a Social Institute”
submitted by me is an original work undertaken by me, all sources and references from which
ideas and excerpts were derived have been properly credited. This project is free of plagiarism
and does not employ any unethical practices.

SARTHAK PANT

21LLB138

Semester I

2
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

SI TITLE Page No.

1. Acknowledgement………………………………………........... 4
2. Abstract………………………………………………………… 5
3. Introduction and Synopsis…………………………………… 6
4. What are Social Institutions? ………………………………… 8
5. Education Meaning…………………………………………… 10
6. Sociological Perspective of Education………………………… 12
7. Aspects of Education………………………………………… 16
9. Critical Sociology…………………………………………… 18
10. Symbolic Interactionism…………………………………….. 19
11. Education and Law…………………………………………….. 20
12. Conclusion…………………………………………………….. 21

3
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. G. Satyanarayana, our esteemed Legal Methods
professor, has provided me with a platform and opportunity to work on this provoking and
informative project on the theme of 'CONGRESS PARTY- PAST PRESENT AND FUTURE .'
It aided my investigation and development of my viewpoint on the subject. My lecturer provided
me with appropriate guidance as well as consistent support while formatting this project. I will
be able to use the abilities I learned in the future.

I'd also want to show my gratitude to the academic department and library of DAMODARAM
SANJIVAYYA NATIONAL LAW UNIVERSITY for their ongoing assistance and availability
of resources and books, without which it would have been difficult to accomplish this project
before the deadline.

Lastly, I would also like to thank my classmates and parents for their ideas and perspectives,
which helped me improve my project. 

Thank you, everyone.

4
 ABSTARCT

A social institution is a complex, interconnected collection of social norms centered on the

maintenance of a fundamental society value. Churches, hospitals, jails, and a variety of other
institutions are often referred to as "institution" by laymen. Institutions emerge and survive as a
result of a clear perceived need among society's members. While most sociologists agree on the
broad origins of institutions, they disagree on the exact driving elements. The term "institution"
is frequently used by sociologists to characterize normative structures that function in five main
areas of life, which are referred to as the major institutions. These areas commonly consists of
Family, Economics, Religion, Education and State

This project helped me to gain more knowledge about various aspects and prospects that
education plays in the society.

The transmission of a society's values and accumulated knowledge can be thought of as

education. It is comparable to what social scientists refer to as socialization in this regard.
Education is intended to assist young people in learning a culture, changing their behaviour in
mature ways, and guiding them toward their ultimate position in society.

5
 SYNOPSIS

INTRODUCTION-

Education plays a crucial role in our modern day society. Large emphasis is given to quality
education too cement the future and career options of the growing buds all over the world.

Social institutions serve a critical role in the construction of human societies. They provide a
framework for social behavior in a certain setting. One of the most significant social institutions
in the world is education. It establishes a shared knowledge basis as well as a goal of
socioeconomic equality for students. It is the realization of an individual's self-potential and
abilities for the benefit of society and life as a whole.

The current system of mass education is second only to the family in terms of socialization. It
encourages social sorting and uniformity, two crucial characteristics of socialization. Students of
various backgrounds are taught a common curriculum, resulting in the transformation of variety
into uniformity. Students get a shared knowledge base, culture, and understanding of society's
stated goals, as well as, perhaps most crucially, a sense of their own place within it. They are
given a common ground for participation in institutional life, but they are also divided into
several routes.

OBJECTIVE

 To understand education as a social institute

 To know the necessity of joining educational institute
 To highlight education in the light of law

LITERATURE REVIEW

This researcher has used reports and statistics provided by the Ministry of Education

6
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This researcher has used the primary and secondary sources of data. This is a doctrinal and
explanatory study

SCOPE OF STUDY

This study has been limited to the various programmes initiated by the government for the
welfare of Educational Institutions and importance for the same.

SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

This study shall help readers understand the working and necessity of each individual
educational programme.

7
WHAT ARE SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS?

Social institutes were among humanity's first inventions, serving a range of functions related to
subsistence, social reproduction, and government. Many social institutions exist in today's world,
some of which are rooted in traditional customs and others which were created as part of modern
nation-building. Social institutions are divided into 3 categories: those that are a part of caste,
social event or the social configuration of a conservative village; second, state-funded
institutions, such, banks, the Panchayat system, and governance mechanisms; and third, those
that are created as part of modern nation-building.

Self-help organizations, NGOs, and other spontaneously organized groups, especially by

metropolitan populations, are examples of modern popular people-centered institutions. Modern
institutes are often established to replace obsolete institutions. They are put up to satisfy the
rising demands of the period at other times. It is not unusual for the ideals and functions of one
institution to clash with those of another. Modern conditions frequently triumph over
conventional ones, and this is the classical perspective found in established literature. A market
system replacing a barter trading system is a good example.1

The contemporary institution is co-opted at that time, for example, it is not unusual to see a
modern election representative co-opted by the caste system. Any institution's ability to develop
and function depends heavily on the social, political, and economic support it receives from the
outset in the form of well-intentioned and gradual adjustments. In a society like India, political
will is required to modernize and completely change established institutions. The social institutes
will be majorly of 5 types. 2

1
Ritambhara Hebbar, and Sarthi Acharya. “Social Institutions and Development Challenges.” Economic and
Political Weekly, no. 32 (2003) <http://www.jstor.org/stable/4413877>

2
Sociology Guide,< https://www.sociologyguide.com/basic-concepts/Social-Institutions.php> (accessed on 9th
October 2021)

8
The term "institution" is frequently used by sociologists to characterise normative structures that
functions in five scope of life those are:

(1) In pre establishing relation

(2) In ensuring the lawful use of authority

(3) In controlling the distribution of commodity and secondary services

(4) In passing of ideas and functions to next generation

(5) In establishment of our relationship with the supernatural.3

Sociologists that follow the functionalist model of society have offered the most detailed
description of the purposes that social structures fulfill. In all human communities, it appears that
some social institutes must be established. The social groups will perish if these institutions are
not completed or established properly.

3
Sociology Guide,< https://www.sociologyguide.com/basic-concepts/Social-Institutions.php> (accessed on 9th
October 2021)

9
EDUCATION: MEANING

Term education is originated from Latin word ‘educate’ which means to ‘educate’, or to ‘draw
out’ the powers of child. Education in Individual and societal level are both essential, because
without it, all of history's collected knowledge and standards of behavior would be lost. A person
must learn the societal culture, or the acceptable methods of doing things. He must be
familiarized into the prominent culture and taught the standards of conduct as well as upcoming
expectations. As a result, rather than leaving learning to chance, society designs its educational
programmes to meet personal and societal requirements. Education is a deliberate educational
programme that aids in the instillation of values, standards, and social techniques that allow an
individual to develop his being in his own way while also sustaining the social order.

The term "education" has a variety of connotations. Each person comprehends the word in light
of his or her previous experiences, desires, and goals. Parents, teachers, administrators, religious
leaders, politicians, and artists all have their own interpretations of the term education. For a
student, education is gaining information and getting a degree or diploma. It may be claimed by a
statesman that it implies preparing people to be perfect citizens. A teacher could see education as
a method of forming a new man and society. Education has different meanings in different places
and at different times. It has gone through several ages and phases of development. It has
different implications and meaning at each step.4

Education may be defined as a process through which people learn to comprehend the working
of the society in which they live. Education is the process through which an individual acquires
the skills required to fit into the society.

Education is largely focused on purposeful learning that prepares a person for his mature position
in society. Education, as Counts and Mead put it, is an induction into the learner's culture. It is a
systematic process through which we learn a significant portion of our social and technical
abilities. "It is as ancient as organized social existence," Lowie claims. Schooling is nothing
more than a highly specialized type of education.

4
Britannica, Lay education and the lower schools< https://www.britannica.com/topic/education/Lay-education-and-
the-lower-schools#ref47521> (accessed on 9th October 2021)

10
In terms of socialization, the current system of mass education is second only to the family. It
promotes homogeneity and social sorting, two important aspects of socialization. Students from
varied origins are taught a common curriculum, which eventually turns diversity into uniformity.
Students develop a common knowledge base, culture, and awareness of society's official aims, as
well as, probably most importantly, a sense of their own place within it. They are provided an
unifying basis for participation in institutional life, but they are also split into numerous paths.5

Those who demonstrate competence through curriculum requirements or informal patterns of

status differentiation in student social life are set on routes to high-status employment in society.
Those who do badly in society are degraded to lower, inferior positions throughout time.

5
Cram, Purpose Of Education As A Social Institution, <https://www.cram.com/essay/Importance-Of-Education-As-
A-Social-Institution/P3XWH553GY3W> (accessed on 9th October 2021)

11
SOCIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE OF EDUCATION

Social institutions serve a critical role in the structure of human societies. They provide a
framework for social behavior in a certain setting. One of the most significant social institutions
in the world is education. It establishes a shared knowledge basis as well as a goal of
socioeconomic equality for students. It is the realization of an individual's self-potential and
abilities for the benefit of society and life as a whole.

Socialization –

Sociological theories have shaped education as a sociological institution, with each one altering
both the individual and society's perspectives, resulting in a social shift. This resulted in society
providing an intentional growing and learning programme to adept various social skills and
techniques that are appropriate for people' mature roles in society. Society creates educational
institutions, such as schools and universities, to do specialised roles in reaching this general goal.
The school not only teaches pupils how to write, spell, and understand mathematics, but it also
exposes them to social standards and values that aren't taught in the classroom. Students receive
academic material that they will need later in life, as well as practical and technical abilities that
will prepare them for a specific vocation, via school and college. Simultaneously, schools and
universities instill societal ideals and standards in them.

The young generation is able to develop reasoning in social relationships, nurture social virtues,
and so become socially effective as a result of schooling. In other words, social efficiency relates
to economic and cultural efficiency, and it is also known as "individual socialization." As a
result, education is not only a component of the socialization process, but it is a critical aspect of
it.

Development of Personality-

Education is crucial in the formation of a person's personality. The need of education is to "grow
the dormant nature and develop the person those physical, intellectual, and moral states that are
expected of him both by his society and by the milieu for which he is uniquely made." Education

12
aids in the development of an individual's physical, mental, and emotional characteristics, as well
as his temperament and character.

The core of a person's personality develops as a result of a child's interactions with others. As a
result, the educational process shapes an individual's habits, characteristics, attitudes, and
aspirations. When a student is encouraged to form his own opinions and ideals by studying
historical and literary figures, his personality is indirectly shaped. A learner's perspective and
attitudes are also influenced by their peers and teachers.

Determination of Status-

Education has a vital role in determining an individual's position. The amount of education a
person has is a good predictor of their socioeconomic standing; education leads to economic
potential for people from the poor to upper classes. Education allows young individuals to get
higher-status occupations than their parents. They associate with people of higher status as their
money rises. As a result, education is a pathway to a higher socioeconomic level.

Social Integration-

Education also incorporates people into the larger community by instilling ideals. The school's
curriculum, 'extra-curricular' activities, and the informal interaction between students and
instructors all impart values and social skills including collaboration or team spirit, compliance,
and fair play.

Social Control-

Education is important for controlling individual behavior since it transmits a way of life and
communicates concepts and values to future generations.

"In the early socialization of the child," argues Bottomore, "education helps to the laws of social
behavior." All civilizations build educational institutions to instruct their younger generations in
order to transfer their social legacy and survive as a social order. To keep society running, the
young must be intentionally prepared for adult duties via means of society's educational process
governs its members' behavior and enforces conformance to its norms.

13
Thus, education, in its broadest meaning, from childhood to maturity, is a critical tool for social
control. In modern civilizations, formal education communicates concepts and ideals that help to
regulate behavior. New generations are taught to follow societal standards, which might result in
punishment if they are broken.

Provides Route for Social Mobility-

Individuals' educational qualifications are increasingly being used to determine their social
standing and mobility. Due to educational achievement, there has been a constant progression
from one status to the next. In an industrial culture and developing countries, the acquisition of
both skills learned in elementary, secondary, and higher education, as well as the educational
credentials proving a person has obtained the skills for a job, is becoming increasingly important.

By choosing and teaching the most capable and industrious adolescents for higher-status
positions in society, the educational system is anticipated to create opportunities for social and
economic mobility.

Those with more talents and training are placed in higher positions in the educational system,
while those with inferior abilities and training are placed in lower positions. As a result,
education promotes vertical social mobility by improving their earning capacity and training
them for higher-status occupations than their parents.

14
Social Development

The way the economy and occupational structure work is closely tied to the skills and values
gained in school. Individuals are educated in skills that are demanded by the economy. In a
contemporary planned economy, competent workers' production must be intentionally aligned
with the society's economic and social interests. This explains why education is so important in
societal progress. For example, literacy promotes economic and social growth, which is why all
emerging countries have implemented large-scale literacy initiatives.

Poor people's political consciousness grows as a result of literacy, and they now organize
themselves into various types of organization.6

6
Puja Mondal, “Educational System: The Meaning, Aspects and Social Functions of Education”, <
https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/education/educational-system-the-meaning-aspects-and-social-functions-of-
education/8582> (accessed on 9th October 2021)

15
ASPECTS OF EDUCATION

Several sociological dimensions of schooling may now be identified. Learning is, first and
foremost, a creative activity. When a guy is stimulated, he responds creatively. In other words,
for the learner, education is a creative endeavor. Second, there are two types of education:
informal and formal. Third, formal education is a socially constructed strategy, a complex system
for putting students in circumstances where they may learn. Individuals only receive formal
education for a short time in their lives.

Fourth, education is both a way of life and a way of preparing for life. Preparation for life entails
(a) the ability to make a living, (b) the ability to improve one's life by appreciating one's cultural
heritage and inner resources, and (c) the ability to operate effectively and productively as a
member of society, as a citizen of the State. Fifth, education entails mastery of learning tools like
as reading, writing, and mathematics, as well as mastery of our relationships with our inner
selves, our neighbors, and the cosmos.

Every individual receives some form of education, even if he has never attended a school,
because his acquired traits are the result of experiences and actions that are educational in nature.
Education, in its broadest meaning, is used to educate individuals all of the attributes that will
enable them to function in society.

Education is a never-ending 'process.' Human education begins at birth and continues until death.
Throughout his life, he leans. There's no way to stop it. Schooling is only a small part of
education. Throughout his life, the person continues to rebuild his expertise. Instruction ends in
the classroom, but education ends only with life.7

7
Puja Mondal, “Educational System: The Meaning, Aspects and Social Functions of Education”, <
https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/education/educational-system-the-meaning-aspects-and-social-functions-of-
education/8582> (accessed on 9th October 2021)

16
Formal Education-

Formal education is a way of adopting what is apt and methodical correct. This is a elite-level
education provided to the growing buds by well educated teachers. Formal education in a nation
is overlooked by institutions to ensure that formal learning is of well standards and that all the
knowledge giving institutions follow these standards.

Formal education is cemented in the classrooms, which means that everything a child learns is
based on certified and reliable material created for the aim of education. To keep students'
education and training constant, all instructors are certified and licensed to teach children, and
they're the same teachers they'll encounter every day.

Informal Education-

Formal education has structure and standards, but informal education has not. Outside of the
classroom, learning takes place in educational settings such as museums and libraries, as well as
non-educational settings such as at home or in non-educational groups. Informal education,
unlike formal education, is fully voluntary.8

8
Claudio Zaki Dib, “Formal, Non-formal and Informal Education: Concepts/Applicability”,University of Sao Paulo,
< http://techne-dib.com.br/downloads/6.pdf> (accessed on 9th October 2021)

17
CRITICAL SOCIOLOGY

Public schools, according to critical sociologists, do not eliminate social inequality. Rather, they
think that educational inequities resulting from variations in class, gender, race, and ethnicity are
reinforced and perpetuated through the educational system. Whereas functionalists consider
education as having a positive impact, critical sociologists perceive it as having a negative
impact. It is critical, they believe, to look at how educational institutions maintain the status quo
and steer persons of lower social standing into submissive roles in society.

Education performance is strongly linked to one's social position. Regardless of their academic
ability or motivation to learn, students from low socioeconomic origins are rarely afforded the
same opportunities as students from higher socioeconomic backgrounds. Barriers such as the
cost of higher education, as well as more subtle cultural cues, weaken education's promise to
promote equality of opportunity. Barriers such as the cost of higher education, as well as more
subtle cultural cues, weaken education's promise to promote equality of opportunity.

The use of IQ tests to gauge cultural knowledge rather than intelligence has been challenged as
biased. You'll need some cultural knowledge to adequately answer these questions, which is
generally held by more affluent people who have had more exposure to symphonic music. Based
on their IQ and aptitude tests, students are frequently divided into enhanced programme tracks,
regular programme tracks, and special needs or remedial programme tracks. While testing
experts claim that prejudice no longer exists in tests, conflict theorists believe that this is
impossible.9

9
BC Campus, Education chapter 16, < https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontosociology/chapter/chapter16-
education/> (accessed on 9th October 2021)

18
SYMBOLIC INTERACTIONISM

Educationa as per the symbolic interactionism, is a method to label the labeling theory into
material practice. A symbolic interactionist would say that this labeling is connected to men in
power and those who are not. Low standardised test scores or poor performance in a particular
topic are frequently used to label a student as a low achiever. Such labels are difficult to "throw
off," which could lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Symbolic interactionists are interested in the labelling of degrees that signify educational
attainment. Credentialism is the use of certificates or degrees to show that a person has a certain
level of knowledge, has finished a certain level of education, or has met certain work criteria.
These certificates or degrees serve as proof of a person's achievements, allowing them to be
classified.10

10
BC Campus, Education chapter 16, < https://opentextbc.ca/introductiontosociology/chapter/chapter16-
education/> (accessed on 9th October 2021)

19
EDUCATION AND LAW

In 1993, the Apex Court in the prominent case of Mohini Jain and Unnikrishan v. State of
Andhra Pradesh11 stated that the Right to Education is a fundamental right that is connected with
the Right to life under Article 21 of Indian Constitution. In 1997, a constitutional amendment
was made to make education as a fundamental right.

The fundamental right to life is a prerequisite for every other right that a judicial body must
uphold since they are necessary for the well reputed enjoyment of life. The right to life is
presided by the right to education. Article 21's right to life, as well as the pride of an individual's
existence, will not be realized unless it is combined with the right to education. In India,
education cannot be sold as a product. Under the country’s Constitution, we believe that
everyone has the right to education. The state is obligated by law to establish educational
institutions so that residents can exercise their right to vote. To carry out the state's
responsibilities, state-owned or state-recognized educational institutions may be utilized. When
the state recognizes private educational institutions, it appoints an agency to carry out the legally
specified responsibilities. Students must be admitted to educational institutions, whether state-
owned or state-recognized, in order to enjoy their 'right to education. 'In order to exercise their
'right to education,' students must be admitted12 to educational institutions, whether state-owned
or state-recognized.`

In general, education accounts for 5% of a country's GDP in order to enable social

transformation. Education is the key to becoming finer or being one step ahead of others who are

11
Unni Krishnan, J.P. & Ors. v. State of Andhra Pradesh & Ors ,1993 AIR 21

12
Puja Mondal, “Educational System: The Meaning, Aspects and Social Functions of Education”, <
https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/education/educational-system-the-meaning-aspects-and-social-functions-of-
education/8582> (accessed on 9th October 2021)

20
not educated. Education is a great instrument for allowing a person to reach his or her maximum
potential.

CONCLUSION

Through this project we have learnt that children's socialization into society is heavily influenced
by their education. During these years, the majority of a child's day is spent to school-related
activities such as attending classes, doing homework, and engaging in extracurricular activities.
The educational system is aimed to prepare students to be contributing members of society. The
majority of the burden for training young people for the workplace rests with schools. Children
learn to be on time, manage their time, and respect their teacher's authority, which prepares them
to respect their boss. A significant effect is also played by the curriculum.

Education plays a vital role in our development and enhancement as it gives boost to our social
understanding and being while affecting various factors ranging from our status to etiquette.
Education as a social institute should be promoted to well secure the future of India to shift it
from developing to developed country.

As each coin is two faced, several critical sociologists have also pointed out some cons regarding
same which should be kept in mind and be reduced to minimum effect.

21