Lesson 1: Introduction to Sociology of Education

✅ What is Sociology?
Sociology is the study of human society and social behavior. It examines how people interact in groups,
institutions, and cultures. The word comes from Latin ‘socius’ (companion) and Greek ‘logos’ (study).
 It helps us understand how society is structured and how people behave in different social settings.
 It focuses on concepts like social structure, social institutions, relationships, culture, norms,
roles, and values.

✅ What is Education?
Education is the formal process through which knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes are passed from one
generation to another.
 It includes schooling, informal learning, home education, and life experiences.
 Education plays a key role in shaping an individual’s personality and preparing them to be
responsible members of society.

✅ What is Sociology of Education?

Sociology of Education is a subfield of sociology that focuses on how education as a social institution
affects and is affected by society.
It studies:
 The functions of education
 The structure and organization of schools
 The relationship between education and social class, gender, race, and ethnicity
 The role of education in maintaining or changing social structures

Key Functions of Education in Society

1. Socialization: Education teaches students social norms, values, and expected behavior (e.g., respect,
discipline, teamwork).
2. Social Control: Schools regulate behavior and maintain order through rules, discipline, and codes of
conduct.
3. Cultural Transmission: Education helps pass down cultural beliefs, traditions, and language.
4. Social Integration: Promotes unity by teaching a shared language and history, helping students from
diverse backgrounds come together.
5. Selection and Allocation: Education helps sort individuals into roles in society based on ability and
achievement (e.g., exams, university selection).
6. Innovation and Change: Education can encourage critical thinking and innovation, helping society
adapt and improve.

📌 Important Concepts in Sociology of Education

Concept Explanation
Social Structure How society is organized (e.g., family, education, religion)
Socialization The lifelong process of learning social norms and values
Social Institutions Major systems in society (e.g., education, family, economy, government)
Culture Shared values, beliefs, behaviors, and symbols in a society
Social Stratification The ranking of people based on class, power, or status
Meritocracy A system where individuals succeed based on talent and effort
Equality in Education Providing fair access and opportunities to all students regardless of background
Hidden Curriculum Unspoken values and norms learned at school (e.g., obedience, punctuality)
📚 Major Theoretical Perspectives
Theory Main Idea in Education
Education serves to maintain social order and stability by training students for
Functionalism
roles.
Education reflects and reinforces inequalities between social classes (e.g., rich vs
Conflict Theory
poor).
Symbolic Education shapes identity through interactions (e.g., teacher-student
Interactionism relationships).

🌍 Global Perspectives
Different societies use education for different purposes:
 In developed countries, education is often linked to economic productivity and technological
progress.
 In developing countries, it is often a tool for poverty reduction, national integration, and social
reform.

📎 Example: Education in Sri Lanka

 Free education from primary to university levels.
 Trilingual education system (Sinhala, Tamil, English).
 Strong link between education and employment, especially in public sector.
 Issues include unequal access, exam pressure, and urban-rural divide.

✅ Summary (Quick Revision)

 Sociology = Study of society.
 Education = Process of learning and development.
 Sociology of Education = Study of how education affects and is affected by society.
 Education helps in socialization, social control, integration, and innovation.
 Theories: Functionalism (stability), Conflict theory (inequality), Symbolic Interactionism (identity).
 Education reflects cultural, economic, and political values of a society.
Lesson 2: Education and Social Structure
(Based on Chapter 3 – Parts I, II & III)

🔹 1. What is Social Structure?

Social structure refers to the organized pattern of social relationships and institutions that make up a
society.
 It includes institutions like family, religion, economy, education, and government.
 Education is one of the main institutions that links individuals to society and helps shape social
roles, status, and identity.

🔹 2. What is Status Attainment?

Status attainment is the process of achieving a certain position in society based on education, job, and
social class.
 Your family background, parental education, occupation, and economic level influence your
success.
 Wealthier parents can offer better resources (like tuition, private schools, devices, etc.), giving their
children a head start.
📌 Example: A student born into a rich family may afford better coaching and enter university, while a poor
student with the same ability may struggle.

🔹 3. Education and Family Background

Studies show:
 Parents' education levels strongly impact children’s academic achievement.
 Mother’s education is a stronger predictor than father’s.
 Fathers’ education influences higher education entry.
 Occupational status of parents also matters — children of professionals tend to do better.
📖 Research:
 Plomin et al. (1990): Educated parents motivate their children more.
 Marjoribanks (1998): Fathers’ education linked to university entry.
 Milne (1989): Mothers' education even more impactful.

🔹 4. What is Social Differentiation?

Social differentiation is how people are categorized or divided based on characteristics such as:
 Race
 Ethnicity
 Social Class
 Gender
 Age
 Disability
Education reflects and sometimes reinforces these differences.

🔸 4A. Race Differentiation

Race is based on physical traits (e.g., skin color, facial features).
 Sociologists categorize races like Negroid, Caucasoid, Mongoloid, etc.
 These physical traits often lead to social labeling and discrimination.
 In some societies, schools are racially segregated or biased in curriculum and treatment.

🔸 4B. Ethnicity
Ethnicity is about shared culture, language, and heritage, not biology.
 For example, Sinhala and Tamil people differ ethnically in Sri Lanka.
 Ethnicity affects language of instruction, cultural representation in textbooks, and access to
education.
🔸 4C. Social Class Differentiation
Social class is defined by wealth, power, and prestige.
 According to Max Weber, these three define one’s life chances.
Component Description
Wealth Assets like land, houses, businesses
Power Ability to influence or control others, often due to position or wealth
Prestige Social respect earned through education, job, or family background
 Richer students can afford better education.
 Poor students often lack resources, leading to inequality in results.
📊 Study by Sewell (1971):
 Students from high-income families are 4× more likely to attend university than low-income
students.

🔸 4D. Gender Differentiation

 Sex is biological (male/female).
 Gender is socially constructed roles, like expectations of how boys and girls should behave.
Historically:
 Boys were expected to be strong, logical, future breadwinners.
 Girls were taught to be nurturing, obedient, future mothers/wives.
In education:
 Girls may be discouraged from science or leadership roles.
 Even today, there’s salary gaps, job discrimination, and underrepresentation in STEM.
However, modern trends show:
 More women entering universities (in some places 60% of students).
 Equal pay laws and awareness campaigns are changing the landscape.
 Education now plays a role in promoting gender equality.

Quick Summary of Key Concepts

Term Meaning
Status Attainment Achieving a social position via education, income, and occupation
Social Class Grouping based on wealth, power, and prestige
Differentiation Categorizing people based on race, class, or gender
Inequality Unequal access to resources and opportunities
Cultural Capital Skills, habits, and knowledge passed from educated parents to children

🌍 Real-World Application: Sri Lanka

 Rural students often lack access to quality education compared to urban areas.
 Girls are often expected to take on family duties at the cost of education.
 Language policies (Sinhala vs Tamil) have affected ethnic access to resources.
 Parental education strongly impacts a child’s performance and career path.
Lesson 3: Education and Social Change
(This combines your notes from Chapter 4 and insights from your assignment on Education as a Tool of
Social Change)

🔹 1. What is Social Change?

Social change refers to any alteration or transformation in social structure, behavior, or relationships over
time.
It includes shifts in:
 Norms, values, and beliefs
 Institutions like family, education, and religion
 Technology, economy, and politics
📖 Definitions:
 Davis: Social change is any alteration in the structure and functions of society.
 Gillin & Gillin: Change due to geography, culture, ideology, or diffusion.
 Jenson: It’s about how people change their ways of doing and thinking.

🔹 2. Relationship Between Education and Social Change

Education and social change are interconnected:
View Explanation
Education causes change It transforms mindsets, promotes equality, and builds awareness.
Education reflects change It adapts to modern values, technologies, and social movements.

🔹 3. Education as a Driver of Social Change

Education promotes social change in several ways:
✅ a. Empowerment
 Empowers individuals to make informed decisions
 Helps marginalized communities gain voice and rights
Example: Girls gaining education → empowered to fight gender discrimination
✅ b. Equal Access to Education
 Everyone, regardless of gender, caste, or class, should access quality education
 Promotes equity and social mobility
UNICEF, Sri Lanka’s free education system are examples
✅ c. Conflict Resolution and Peace Building
 Teaches tolerance, civics, and history
 Encourages peaceful dialogue over violence
Example: Trilingual education in Sri Lanka, Peace Camps
✅ d. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
 Develops ability to question injustice
 Promotes innovative solutions to real-world issues
Assignment Example: Teaching ethics, debate, and robotics in schools
✅ e. Education for Social Justice
 Fights discrimination and promotes fairness and inclusion
 Trains citizens to stand against corruption, inequality
"Education is every child’s right, regardless of gender or ethnicity."
✅ f. Cultural Awareness and Diversity
 Promotes respect for all ethnicities, languages, and traditions
 Builds global citizenship and empathy
Example: Inclusive classrooms, multilingual learning, volunteerism
✅ g. Education for Sustainable Development
 Teaches about climate change, renewable energy, and eco-awareness
Example: Tree planting programs in schools to teach environmental ethics
🔹 4. Education as an Effect of Social Change
Sometimes, social change drives education reforms:
 Urbanization → need for more schools
 Technology → rise of digital learning
 Democracy → civic education becomes essential
 Globalization → international curriculum and English-medium teaching

🔹 5. Modern Forces of Change Connected to Education

Modern Concept How It Links to Education
Modernization Promotes literacy, tech use, and scientific mindset
Urbanization Expands access to schools and colleges in cities
Industrialization Changes job skills, requiring technical and vocational education
Westernization Introduces global education models, liberal values
Privatization Leads to rise of private schools, tuition industry
Globalization International education systems, student exchange, global curriculum

🔹 6. Role of Digital Technology

Digital revolution has redefined learning:
 Online classes (Zoom, Google Classroom)
 Platforms like Kahoot, Educreations for interactive learning
 Libraries are now digital hubs
 Teachers act as facilitators, not just lecturers
 Students need 21st-century skills: creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, communication

🔹 7. Challenges in Promoting Social Change Through Education

 Digital Divide: Rural students lack access to tech
 Exam-Oriented Systems: Focus more on grades than on values or critical skills
 Gender & Class Barriers: Still present in many societies
 Teacher Resistance: Some educators resist curriculum reform or digital change

📌 Key Terms to Remember

Term Meaning
Social change Transformation of society’s structures and values over time
Empowerment Gaining control over decisions affecting one’s life
Social justice Fair treatment and equal rights for all members of society
Sustainable development Meeting needs today without harming future generations
Critical thinking Logical analysis of ideas and beliefs
Global citizenship Sense of belonging to the global community

✅ Quick Summary
 Education is a powerful tool for social change, influencing values, justice, and awareness.
 It both drives and reflects changes in society.
 With modern challenges, education must go beyond textbooks to build skills for peace, equity, and
sustainability.
 Policies must ensure equal access, inclusive curriculum, and 21st-century learning for all.
Lesson 4: Socialisation and Education for Liberation
(Based on Chapter 2 – Parts I, II & III)

🔹 1. What is Socialisation?
Socialisation is the lifelong process of learning how to behave in society.
 It helps individuals learn values, norms, customs, language, and roles.
 It’s how a person becomes a social being.
 Socialisation begins from infancy and continues through school, media, religion, and peers.

🔹 2. Types of Socialisation
Type Description
Primary Socialisation First learning in early childhood — from parents and close family
Secondary Socialisation Occurs later in life — at school, workplace, or through media
Anticipatory
Learning to adopt values and behaviors of a future role
Socialisation
Unlearning old behaviors and learning new ones — e.g., after migration or
Resocialisation
rehab

🔹 3. Education’s Role in Socialisation

Schools are powerful agents of socialisation. They help children:
 Learn social roles (student, leader, follower)
 Understand rules, discipline, and structure
 Develop teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills
 Gain respect for authority and institutions
 Build national identity and cultural understanding

🔹 4. Mechanisms of Socialisation in Schools

Mechanism Example
Formal Curriculum Subjects like History, Civics, Religious Education
Hidden Curriculum Obedience, punctuality, competition, respect for authority
Peer Group Influence Friends shape attitudes, language, and self-image
Teacher Influence Teachers act as role models; their expectations affect student performance
Rules & Routines Enforce discipline, responsibility, time management

🔹 5. Education for Liberation (Inspired by Paulo Freire)

Education for Liberation is the idea that learning should free people from oppression and help them
challenge injustice.
📖 Freire’s Book: Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Main idea: Education should not be a one-way process of depositing facts into students ("banking concept").
Instead, it should be dialogical — students and teachers co-learn and reflect on their world.

🔹 6. Features of Liberative Education

Liberative Feature Explanation
Critical Consciousness Learners should reflect on their real-life problems
Problem-Posing Education Encourage questioning, not memorization
Dialogue and Participation Teachers and students share ideas equally
Social Justice Focus Education should fight inequality and empower the oppressed
Community-Based Learning Learning must connect with students' own social and cultural background
🔹 7. Socialisation vs. Liberation: A Comparison
Socialisation Liberation
Teaches societal norms and roles Encourages questioning and critical thinking
Often reinforces status quo Aims to change unjust systems
Prepares students to “fit in” Prepares students to “transform” society
Can lead to conformity Promotes activism, resistance, empowerment

🔹 8. Problems in Traditional Education Systems

 Rote learning without understanding
 Exam pressure discourages creativity
 No room for questioning or critique
 Often disconnected from real life problems

🔹 9. Global and Local Relevance

 Freire's ideas influenced education in Brazil, Africa, South Asia, and beyond.
 In Sri Lanka, education can be used to:
o Empower rural students
o Address ethnic and language divisions
o Promote democracy, peace, and equality

📌 Key Terms to Remember

Term Meaning
Socialisation Process of learning how to behave in society
Hidden Curriculum Unspoken lessons learned in school (e.g., obedience, competition)
Liberation Freedom from oppression or unjust control
Critical Consciousness Being aware of social injustice and the need to change it
Dialogical Education Two-way learning process involving both teacher and student
Problem-Posing Method Teaching that starts with real-life problems, not just theories

✅ Summary (Quick Revision)

 Socialisation teaches students to follow norms and adapt to society.
 Education for Liberation helps students think critically and challenge injustice.
 Schools can both reproduce inequality and transform society — it depends on how education is
structured.
 Paulo Freire’s theory is important for designing empowering and transformative learning
environments.
Lesson 5: Contemporary Social Issues and Modern Trends in
Education
(Based on Chapters 5 – Parts I–IV + Youth Unrest documents)

🔹 1. What Are Contemporary Social Issues in Education?

Contemporary social issues are current problems that affect individuals and society. In education, they
challenge access, quality, equity, and relevance.
Issue Explanation
Youth Unrest Dissatisfaction among youth due to unemployment, education mismatch, etc.
Gender Inequality Discrimination against girls or women in education and jobs
Unemployment Lack of suitable jobs for educated youth
Cultural Conflict Ethnic and language-based inequalities
Globalization Effects Western influence on curriculum, local identity loss
Privatization Rise in private education, creating inequality
Bullying and Racism Discrimination or violence within schools
Social Cohesion Challenges Lack of unity, belonging, and respect in diverse classrooms

🔹 2. Youth Unrest: A Key Concern

✅ Definition:
“Youth unrest is the collective frustration and dissatisfaction of young people in society.”

🔹 3. Causes of Youth Unrest in Sri Lanka

Cause Details
Unemployment Especially among educated youth — leads to frustration
Students study for office jobs but jobs available are low-paying or labor-
Education-Job Mismatch
based
Political and Social
Youth feel excluded from decision-making and national opportunities
Inequality
Northern youth fought for Tamil Eelam; Southern youth joined JVP
Ethnic Conflict
movements
Poor Vocational Training Schools fail to offer job-ready skills
Family and Social Pressure Cultural expectations create stress and disappointment
📊 Study Note: In 1987, over 490,000 students failed to enter higher education. Many became hopeless and
vulnerable to radical ideologies.

🔹 4. Effects of Youth Unrest

 Armed uprisings (1971, 1989 — JVP; 1983–2009 — LTTE)
 Rise of radical ideologies
 Violence, rebellion, suicide rates
 Distrust in political systems
 Increase in migration and brain drain
⚠ Reminder: Both Sinhala and Tamil youth faced unrest due to lack of opportunity, not just ethnicity.

🔹 5. Modern Trends in Education

Education is evolving rapidly due to technology, globalization, and sustainability goals.
✅ a. 21st-Century Skills
Defined by P21 Framework:
1. Creativity
2. Critical Thinking
3. Communication
4. Collaboration
Also includes:
 Entrepreneurship
 Problem Solving
 Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

✅ b. Digital Learning
 Students are digital natives (Gen Z, Alpha)
 Education uses:
o Google Docs
o Kahoot
o Educreations
o Smartboards
 Tech must be used strategically, not just added for show

✅ c. Self-Directed Learning for Teachers

 Webinars, online courses, and interactive modules
 Teachers must keep up with digital tools and global standards

✅ d. Globalization in Education
 Rise of international schools
 Cultural exchange, online learning, and global citizenship
 Local education systems now compete globally

✅ e. Sustainable Development
 Education is now linked to:
o Climate change awareness
o Disaster resilience
o Green technology
 Promotes eco-conscious and responsible citizens

🔹 6. Key Challenges in Education Today

Challenge Impact
Digital Divide Unequal access to internet and devices
Outdated Curricula Doesn't match job market or student needs
Privatization Creates inequality in quality and access
Cultural Biases Certain groups feel excluded or misrepresented
Exam-Centric Focus Kills creativity, discourages deep learning
📌 Key Terms and Definitions
Term Definition
Youth Unrest State of frustration among youth due to unmet expectations
21st Century Skills Skills needed for success in modern life: collaboration, creativity, etc.
Globalization Integration of global ideas and systems into local education
Privatization Transfer of education from government to private ownership
Social Cohesion Unity and shared values in a diverse society
Sustainable Development Meeting current needs without harming the future

✅ Final Summary:
 Education today must do more than teach facts — it should build social harmony, prepare
students for jobs, and promote justice and sustainability.
 Youth unrest in Sri Lanka is rooted in long-term issues: job mismatch, inequality, and political
exclusion.
 Modern education requires updating both content and delivery, ensuring inclusivity, digital access,
and relevance.