Education has been given much consideration throughout many societies. It is explained as a process in which an individual gains insight and develops personal attributes or skills. This essay will discuss the thoughts of Plato and Mwalimu Julius Kambarage Nyerere and their insight into the purpose and importance of education. Plato, a philosopher, was born in Athens in 428 BC, a time and place which emphasised the existence and the importance of formal education. Ancient Greece encouraged that education was the fundamental to the development of an individual aesthetically, morally and intellectually (F.O. Odhiambo 1998, 75). Much of Plato’s thoughts can be seen in his own readings, The Republic, Laws and Statesman, as he explains that education
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Whilst some would resist the need for education through personal or social grounds, it is the responsibility of the teacher to create a positive educational experience for each child therefore, encouraging the resistors to learn and enjoy becoming educated. Education is essential for the developing of people who in turn develop and strengthen a nation. Plato affirms this and explains in order to create a better State, education is at the helm of this. ““Education must promote a new type of leadership; and this leadership, once found, isolated, and trained, must by rights become supreme” (T.V. Smith 1956, 321.). Educators in ancient Greece were driven by making money; therefore education was only available to the wealthy. Plato identified a problem and established a new concept in which all social backgrounds would be educated. This would enable every person to be granted an education, even women who were not deemed worthy of an education at that time. Plato rectified this and commented that “natural gifts are to be found in both sexes … ”( F. Copleston 1962, 229.).This addresses the concept that education is not only for the improvement academically of the wealthy, but for all. Education thus can be seen as a universal objective. Plato in his writings discusses that education should be divided into three stages, in which he deemed the most important to attain an education. These stages are comparable to modern day …show more content…
As stated in an article; “A basic theme that runs through all these writings is that of education for self-reliance”. (R. Osoro 1996, 146-147). Nyerere implies that education is not merely enforced in a classroom but can be demonstrated as he states; “from books, from radio, from films, from discussions about matters which affect our lives, and especially from doing things”. (J.K. Nyerere 1973, 138). This highlights that we do not need to be in a classroom to be educated and that our education is a constant factor that suggests that we are always learning. Education guides us throughout our life and does not cease after our schooling days have finished. Nyerere also comments that learning can be acquired by doing, which coincides with modern learnings in the classroom, where practical lessons are often implemented to support a particular area. For example the dissecting of a sheep’s heart in Biology coincides with the learning of the circulatory system. According to Nyerere, the purpose of education, whether it be formal or informal is “to transmit accumulated wisdom and knowledge and to prepare young people for their role in the maintenance and development of the particular society” (Ministry Of Information, Tanzania Today, 98-99). Education is a process in which individual’s
Whilst some would resist the need for education through personal or social grounds, it is the responsibility of the teacher to create a positive educational experience for each child therefore, encouraging the resistors to learn and enjoy becoming educated. Education is essential for the developing of people who in turn develop and strengthen a nation. Plato affirms this and explains in order to create a better State, education is at the helm of this. ““Education must promote a new type of leadership; and this leadership, once found, isolated, and trained, must by rights become supreme” (T.V. Smith 1956, 321.). Educators in ancient Greece were driven by making money; therefore education was only available to the wealthy. Plato identified a problem and established a new concept in which all social backgrounds would be educated. This would enable every person to be granted an education, even women who were not deemed worthy of an education at that time. Plato rectified this and commented that “natural gifts are to be found in both sexes … ”( F. Copleston 1962, 229.).This addresses the concept that education is not only for the improvement academically of the wealthy, but for all. Education thus can be seen as a universal objective. Plato in his writings discusses that education should be divided into three stages, in which he deemed the most important to attain an education. These stages are comparable to modern day …show more content…
As stated in an article; “A basic theme that runs through all these writings is that of education for self-reliance”. (R. Osoro 1996, 146-147). Nyerere implies that education is not merely enforced in a classroom but can be demonstrated as he states; “from books, from radio, from films, from discussions about matters which affect our lives, and especially from doing things”. (J.K. Nyerere 1973, 138). This highlights that we do not need to be in a classroom to be educated and that our education is a constant factor that suggests that we are always learning. Education guides us throughout our life and does not cease after our schooling days have finished. Nyerere also comments that learning can be acquired by doing, which coincides with modern learnings in the classroom, where practical lessons are often implemented to support a particular area. For example the dissecting of a sheep’s heart in Biology coincides with the learning of the circulatory system. According to Nyerere, the purpose of education, whether it be formal or informal is “to transmit accumulated wisdom and knowledge and to prepare young people for their role in the maintenance and development of the particular society” (Ministry Of Information, Tanzania Today, 98-99). Education is a process in which individual’s