Sociology of education

Sociology of education, Sociology of education refers to the discipline which attempts to analyze systematically the sociological aspects process and patterns occurring within the education phenomena, according to Singh, (1992) defined the sociology of education is the study of how public institutions and individual experiences affect education and its outcomes. It is most concerned with the public schooling systems including the expansion of higher, further, adult, and continuing education. It is a philosophical as well as a sociological concept, denoting ideologies, curricula, and pedagogical techniques of the inculcation and management of knowledge and the social reproduction of personalities and cultures. Brookover and Gottlieb consider that “this assumes education is a combination of social acts and that sociology is an analysis of human interaction.” Educational process goes on in a formal as well as in informal situations. Sociological analysis of the human interaction in education may include both situations and might lead to the development of scientific generalizations of human relations in the educational system, Singh, (1992).

Because education is an essential institution in society, the sociology of education must focus on the social issues, many with vital policy implications. The following are the challenges facing the schooling system in developing countries and the suggestion on forward to overcome them:

Financial Barriers. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights makes clear that every child has the right to a free basic education, so that poverty and lack of money should not be a barrier to schooling. In many developing countries, over the last decade governments have announced the abolition of school fees and as a result, seen impressive increases in the number of children going to school. Although official fees are no longer levied in schools, for example in Tanzania’s poorest students are still unable to attend school because of other school-related costs. Their parents or guardians cannot afford to pay for uniforms, and additional school materials such as books. The measurement of this challenge is that in family level the parents and guardians should recognize that it is their duty or responsibility to support their children schooling. They must engage in various economic activities such as agriculture, small business, fishing and mining activities that will help them to attain money Kremer, (2003).

The problem of Infrastructure, most of developing countries experience poor infrastructure system for instance transport and buildings. Students in remote and rural areas of Less developing countries have to travel very far to get to school, and many do not have access to community secondary school in their ward. Many secondary schools suffer from a basic lack of infrastructure, educational materials, and qualified personnel. To overcome these challenge, the government and community members should provide enough infrastructures by building hostels that enable students to stay in schools and doing their academic issues rather that walking long distance from their home to school Jensen, (2010).

Girls face sexual harassment, discrimination, and expulsion due to pregnancy or marriage, less than a third of girls that enter lower-secondary school graduate. Many girls are exposed to widespread sexual harassment by teachers. Many also face sexual exploitation and abuse by bus drivers and adults who often ask them for sex in exchange for gifts, rides, or money, on their way to school. In some schools, officials do not report cases of sexual abuse to police, and many schools lack a confidential mechanism to report abuse. Many, and perhaps most, schools force girls to undergo pregnancy testing in school and expel girls when they find out they are pregnant. Girls who are married are also expelled according to the government’s expulsion guidelines. The government and community should work together by implementing those policies made by government, where the community should report different sexual harassment act to the specified areas like police stations and ward offices. The students also should be insisted to have confidence on reporting it Verspoor, (2003).

            Absenteeism, one of the most damaging problems that affects development in the human capital sectors in Less Developed Countries is that of absenteeism; particularly the absenteeism of students and teachers which contributes to low levels of educational outcomes. this prevalence of absenteeism is negatively correlated with economic development and income and thus poorer countries suffer more than wealthier states. however, there is significant evidence that some. The problem of absenteeism also extends to students in many Less Developed Countries where absence is often caused by health problems such as malnutrition and disease that are a far higher cause of student absenteeism. The Students should know their responsibilities in education, this will force them to participate well in daily academic session also teachers should implement well the government policies in order to overcome such problem and parents should work hand in hand with their children and teachers Lockheed, (1991).

Educational Gender Gap, gender is one of the biggest reasons why children are denied an education. Despite recent advances in girls’ education, a generation of young women has been left behind. Over 130 million young women around the world are not currently enrolled in school. At least one in five adolescent girls around the world is denied an education by the daily realities of poverty, conflict and discrimination. Poverty forces many families to choose which of their children to send to school. Girls often miss out due to belief that there’s less value in educating a girl than a boy. Instead, they are sent to work or made to stay at home to look after siblings and work on household chores. Girls also miss days of school every year or are too embarrassed to participate in class, because they don’t have appropriate menstrual hygiene education or toilet facilities at their school to manage their period in privacy and with dignity (Colclough,2005).  the government should make strictly policy that will force every parents or guardians to send their children to school without regarding their gender also the parents should be educated on the importance of providing education to girls.

Primary School Exam Policy Blocks Access to Secondary Education, most of developing countries especially Tanzania, the government controls the number of students who enter secondary education by relying on the Primary School Leaving Exam (PSLE), an exam at the end of primary school. The government only allows students who pass the exam to proceed on secondary school and it cannot be re-taken, meaning children who fail cannot continue with formal schooling and often drop out without completing the last year of primary education. The measure of this challenge is that the government should provide another chance for those who failed to continue secondary education by allow them to retake the standard seven studies.

Generally, social interactions in education play the great role on solving many challenges facing effective educational provision in less developing countries and the possible policy implementations to combat such challenges. Also investment in education is essential for development of any nation; largely the problems that occur as a result of sub-optimal levels of education that are highly damaging to development.  this argued that a focus on educational investment is necessary for development due to its positive effects on improvement of education as well as income, human capacity, technology transfer, and in improving health outcomes.

REFERENCES

Colclough, C. (2005). School Quality and Vocational Skills in Africa. In M. Beveridge et al.

Reintegrating Education Skills and Work in Africa, Edinburgh: Centre of African Studies, University of Edinburgh.

Glewwe, P. (2002). Schools and Skills in Developing Countries: Education

Jensen and robert, 2010. the (Perceived) returns to education and the Demand for schooling,  

Quarterly Journal of economics

Lockheed, M. and Verspoor, A. (1991). Improving Primary Education in Developing Countries.

Washington, D.C.: World Bank.

Kremer, M. (2003). Randomized evaluations of educational Programs in Developing countries:

some lessons, american economic review

Singh, Y. M. (1992). Sociological Foundations of Education, Sheth Publishers, Bombay

Verspoor, A. M. (Ed.), (2003). The Challenge of Learning: Improving the Quality of Basic

Education in Sub-Saharan Africa, Paris: ADEA