Meaning and Characteristics of Education
Education (Meaning and Characteristics of Education) is a process that helps us to adapt to a changing environment. True education can develop the ability to discern the subtle differences between right and wrong in all individuals.
All living things need food, water, light, and air to survive. Similarly, there is a need for appropriate education to adapt or cope with the rapidly changing environment. Therefore, education can be identified as the main tool for building a modern society. Education is a process that helps in shaping a child’s character, creating values, controlling instincts, and developing coordination. Detailed information regarding education is as follows:
Etymological Meaning of Education
An etymological analysis of the Hindi word “Siksha” reveals that it originates from the Sanskrit root “Shash,” meaning to discipline, to control, to order, to rule etc. In Sanskrit “Siksha” is a particular branch of the Sutra literature, which has six branches- Shiksha, Chhanda, Byakarana, Nirukta, Jyotisha, and Kalpa. In other words, education means learning. It is directed towards a specific goal or objective and helps the learner to gain knowledge and experience.
In Bengali, the term “Vidya” has come from the Sanskrit word “Bid.” The etymological meaning of the word ‘sikhsha’ or ‘Vidya’ in Bengali is to know or to acquire knowledge.
In English the term “Education” comes from the Latin words “Educere,” “Educare,” “Educatum,” and “Educo”. The meaning of these four words is shown in the following figure:
Fig: Etymological meaning of Education
According to educationists, the function of the educational process is not only to nurture a person’s latent potential but also to bring that potential to outward expression. Therefore, another function of the educational process is to direct an individual’s latent potential towards a specific goal or objective and help the student acquire knowledge and experience.
Definition of Education
If we mention certain definitions of education of various educators of the east and the west, then it is possible to gain a clear understanding of the concept of education. Let’s discuss some definitions of education:
Western educators’ views on education
According to Plato, “Education is the capacity to feel pleasure and pain at the right moment. It develops in the body and in the soul of the pupil all the beauty and all the perfection which he is capable of.”
According to Rousseau, “Education of man commences at his birth before he can speak, before he can understand, he is already instructed. Experience is the forerunner of precept. It is the development from within.”
According to Pestalozzi, “Education is the natural, harmonious and progressive development of man’s innate powers.”
Indian educators’ views on education
According to Swami Vivekananda, “Education is the manifestation of the perfection already in man. Like fire in a piece of flint, knowledge exists in the mind. Suggestion is the friction; which brings it out.”
According to Mahatma Gandhi, “By Education, I mean an all-round drawing out of the best in the child and man-body, mind and spirit.”
According to Rabindranath Tagore, “The highest education is that which does not merely give us information but makes our life in harmony with all existence.”
Characteristics of Education
The characteristics of education that are observed in the analysis of the Eastern and Western definitions of education are mentioned below:
- Education is a social process.
- Education is a dynamic process, which is capable of bringing a change in a person’s life.
- Education is a life-long continuous process that allows the proper development of the various latent potentialities of the individual.
- Education helps the individual to be in fruitful harmony with the dynamic society.
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Bibliography- Ravi, S. Samuel. A Comprehensive Study of Education. PHI Learning Private Limited, Delhi.
- Purkait, B. R. Principles and Practices of Education. New Central Book Agency (P) Ltd., Kolkata.
