- Individual Aim
- Social Aim
- Vocational Aim
- Democratic Aim
Individual Aim
Every individual is different from others. Biologists believe that every child is a new and unique character and a different perspectives with life. Thompson says “education is for the individual”. The individual aim of education is the type of aim that is developed depending on a person’s individuality, i.e. his/her likes and dislikes, good and bad, needs, abilities etc. According to the individualistic view, the individual aim of education is to preserve the individuality of the individual and help in his moral, intellectual and spiritual development. Every child is born with his own unique potential, education develops this potential. For believers in this doctrine, the needs of the individual are the main consideration. Educators such as Froebel, Pestalozzi, Montessori, Vivekananda, Rabindranath have supported this type of goal of education.
Social Aim
Apart from the individual aim of education, there is another aim which is the social aim, which develops social qualities in the learner. According to socialist view, education is a social responsibility. Its purpose will be to engage itself in the path of social welfare, education will be such that the society will be nourished. Individuals have no separate existence outside society. Social aim which means that education should produce effective individuals in the sense that they realize their responsibilities towards the society. The interactive ability of man, a social being is must as it is through interaction that man comes to know of his responsibilities. Believers in this doctrine believe that society comes first and then the individual. This type of aim of education places more importance on the society than the individual. According to John Dewey, education should make each individual socially efficient and this social efficiency must be achieved through the positive use of individual powers and capacities in social occupations. Educationists such as Hobbes, Hegel, Herbert, Dewey supported this type of aim of education.
Vocational Aim
A very important aim of education is the democratic aim. Democratic aim mean the goals set to develop the mindset of maintaining mutual harmony and equality among the citizens of the country, prepare good citizens and build a good country run by good citizens. Inculcation of children in democratic ideals is the main topic of discussion.
Views Against Individual Aim
1. If education focuses entirely on the individual, the social welfare aspect of education is completely neglected.
2. This type of education aims to make the child self-centered and selfish.
3. According to the individualistic aim of education, if the individual is left with complete freedom, then different corruptions will arise in him.
4. The aim of modern education is the all-round development of the student, which is not possible without the development of social qualities of the child.
Views Against Social Aim
1. Social needs, norms, abilities, relationships, values are given more importance in the social aim. As a result, the child’s own interests and needs are completely neglected.
2. Such aim of education do not emphasize the inherent potential of the child.
3. Social aims have no place in the formation of children’s moral values.
4. It reduces an individual to a mere non-entity.
- Ravi, S. Samuel. A Comprehensive Study of Education. PHI Learning Private Limited, Delhi.
