Different Social Science Theories of Education

Social Science Theories of Education

• Consensus Theory: a particular political or economic system is considered fair, and social change should occur within the social institutions provided by it.
• Conflict Theory: society is in a perpetual state of conflict due to competition for limited resources, and social order is maintained by domination and power rather than consensus and conformity.
• Structural Functionalism: society is a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability.
• Social Interactionist Theory: the meaning we derive from and attribute to the world around us is a social construction produced by everyday social interaction.

New Developments in Education

• Transformative Education: an educational process that brings about deep and significant changes (for the better) of an individual, culminating in similar changes at the societal level.
• Inclusive Education: education based on the right of all learners to quality education that meets basic learning needs and enriches lives.

Trends, Issues, and Developments in Education

• Competency: determining the roles of teachers as active members of the community and as global citizens responsible for the outcomes of their actions and for developing other citizens.

Global and National Development Trends and Directions in the 21st Century

• Globalization
• Changing Environmental/Political and Cultural Landscape
• The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Revolution and High Interconnectivity
• The Changing World of Work
• Changing Values and Morality
• Concern for Human Dignity and Human Development

Characteristics of Education for the 21st Century

• Quality (Excellence, Effectiveness)
• Equity (Democratization of Access, Inclusive Education)
• Relevance (Functionality and Meaningfulness)
• Sustainability (Education for the Future)

Inclusive Education

• Values diversity and the unique contributions each student brings to the classroom
• Aims to embrace all people, regardless of race, gender, disability, medical or other needs
• Students and their parents participate in setting learning goals and take part in decisions that affect them
• In a truly inclusive setting, every child feels safe and has a sense of belonging

2013 Enhanced Basic Education Act and 2015 Education Plan

• Calls for learner-oriented and responsive education provisions according to the needs, cognitive and cultural capacity, circumstances, and diversity of all learners
• Reaffirms inclusive education (education for all)
• The right to education is a basic human right
• All children and youth should have access to quality education
• Inclusive education shall be concerned with all learners, with a focus on those who have traditionally been excluded from educational opportunities

Other Educational Initiatives

• SPED (Special Education)
• IPEd (Indigenous People Education)
• Madrasah Education
• ALS (Alternative Learning System)
• ADMs (Alternative Delivery Modes)

Major Paradigm Shift in Education

• Learner-centered and learning-oriented curriculum
• From rigid selection of students to more open and multiple standards
• From prescribed pedagogy to more flexible teaching styles that reflect the uniqueness of the learners' intelligences, motivations, needs, and situations

Contributions of Famous Educators

• Herbert Spencer: emphasized the importance of practical, utilitarian, and scientific subjects in the curriculum
• John Dewey: advocated for learning by doing and through experience, and believed that education should contribute to personal and social growth
• George Counts: believed that education should be based on the needs of a particular society and that schools should cope with social change