Introduction
The connection between education and social inequality in society is one of the fundamental issues of sociology and one of the most pressing issues of state policy. Each person goes through the basics of education as a social institution that influences the development of life plans and images of the new generation. Today, education plays a key role in human life, as with its help, people can build their careers and improve their standard of living. The problem of the relationship between education and social inequality has been of concern to sociologists for more than a decade.
The Role of Education in Society
One of the fundamental questions of sociological science is the connection between education and social inequality. In addition, this problem is one of the most urgent regarding linking to state policy. There are various independent opposing positions as to which education contributes to the formation of social inequality and, in general, to the establishment of inequality between different categories of citizens.
At present, as at all times, education gives a person life guidelines, influences the formation of his worldview, and ensures the continuity of language, and traditions, thereby contributing to the consolidation of society, the formation of national identity, and the preservation of national culture. The reading presented the argument that education is the cause of the emergence of credentialism, that is, the distribution of people into social positions, especially places of employment, based on evidence of qualifications (Chapter 16, 2021). According to the reading, this only contributes to the rooting of the class structure of society (Chapter 16, 2021). That is, it is one of the mechanisms for reproducing the principles of social inequality in modern society.
Security Equals a High Level of Education
Sociology studies social life, social changes in society, and social events that people constantly encounter and participate in and which, in one way or another, affect their behavior, lifestyle, and position in society. Education in the literal sense means the creation of an image, a certain completeness of education in accordance with a certain age level. Therefore, education is interpreted as a process and a result of a person’s assimilation of the experience of generations in the form of a system of knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
Sociologists link gaps in the population’s education level with social stratification. There are basic explanations for achievement based on the class gap (Chapter 16, 2021). First, middle and upper-middle-class parents tend to invest more largely in their children’s cognitive development. In addition, different income levels allow families to provide different educational goods and services that help individual children succeed in school. Second, parents with higher incomes are often well-educated, and their experience gives them specific skills and knowledge that can be useful in helping their children (Chapter 16, 2021). The difference in income also allows the child’s environment to be changed, meaning families can afford housing in safer areas with better schools and more enrichment activities.
Influence of Society on the Preservation of Inequality
It is difficult to argue with the assertion that the education system itself, namely, those who stand at its foundation, allows inequality to consolidate and develop. However, education helps to gradually equalize the social opportunities that a person has in society. That makes it possible to acquire new skills necessary for further development. This possibility is limited only by the individual himself or his environment. It can also be school teachers who, for example, practice tracking – dividing students into groups that receive different instructions based on perceived similarities in ability or achievement (Chapter 16, 2021). Sociologists believe this has a negative impact on students and its use partly explains the persistence of existing social inequalities.
Prejudices Inside the School
Education is the best tool to fight racism, discrimination, and social inequality and build inclusive societies. However, critics argue that current school policies only reinforce racial bias. It may be so if we consider from the point of view of the attitude of employees in the field of education and the example they set for schoolchildren. In this regard, people in the school, including the students themselves, hold abstract and concrete views concerning schooling. Abstract attitudes are ideas consistent with generally accepted societal views, whereas concrete attitudes are ideas based on real experience (Chapter 16, 2021). These attitudes are formed due to cultural, social, and personal experiences.
Country Development Level Reflects Society Development Level
Improving the efficiency of the educational system is a multidisciplinary and long-term task, the solution of which depends on the country’s competitiveness. The general level of development of the state affects the level of literacy of the population, so the problem of ignorance is also a problem for political leaders. In addition, the processes of technologization make education much more accessible, in connection with which modern youth is more educated than the older generation. However, countries such as sub-Saharan Africa and South and West Asia are still notorious for their low literacy rates. That is primarily due to the country’s level of development, as mentioned earlier, which affects the spread of education.
Conclusion
In general, there are two fundamental positions regarding the contribution of education to establishing and maintaining social equality or inequality in society. On the one hand, sociologists believe that education is a mechanism for the reproduction of social inequality in society. On the other hand, education helps to equalize people’s social opportunities, and many external factors affect the maintenance or development of social inequality. In general, it is also necessary to consider global problems such as poverty and unemployment, which affect a lifestyle and level of education of a family or an individual as a part of society.
Reference
Chapter 16: Education [PowerPoint slides]. (2021). W. W. Norton & Company.