Meaning, Definition and Need of Definite Aims of Education, Main Aims of Education

Aims of Education in Contemporary Indian Society

Meaning and Definition of Aims of Education

Man is a progressive being. He wants to advance and rise at all times. Whatever he wants to achieve in his life, its ideal condition is called the aim. This ideal condition a cannot be defined in limits. Aim indicates an ideal condition which cannot be limited to It has the same meaning in the field of education, it indicates towards a higher direction o that is, such an ideal situations which cannot be limited. We can define it as follows :

An aim of education is such a statement which indicates an ideal condition of desirable change, such an ideal condition which cannot be bound in limits. 

Distinction between Aims and Objectives

Though aim and objective are synonym, but they are related with each other c as whole and part. An aim indicates an ideal condition, such ideal condition which o cannot be bound in limits. On the contrary, an objective has specified limit, it is achievable in itself. Generally, several objectives are determined for the achievement of an aim, and these objectives are realized for the achievement of that aim. 

Need of Definite Aims of Education

Education is a social process that goes on lifelong. By it a society acquaints its members by its previously acquired civilization and culture and enables them to effect continuous development in their civilization and culture. If the society has not a clear picture before itself what it has to teach to its next generation and what it has not to teach, its education cannot be run properly. The provision of formal education is done for the achievement of specified aims. In the absence of specified and clear aims this education cannot be imagined. Aimless education is meaningless in itself. The need of definite aims of education is evident from the following factors:

1. Provision of Formal Education 

2. Provision of Curriculum and Teaching Methods

3. Operation of Education Properly

4. Enthusiasm in Vigour

5. Utilization of Time and Energy

Main Aims of Education

The real fact is that there are no aims of education in itself, the aims of a society are the aims of education too. Because the aims of different societies are different, so the aims of their education too are different. Not only this, but they continue to change with the time and place. It is obvious that they cannot be limited. So, they cannot be analysed separately. Of course, they can be put in certain general classes We have attempted to classify the aims of education of any society or country under the nine headings, and have also endeavoured to analyse the changes that occur in them due to change in time and place

[I] Physical Development 

Physical development is the universal and perennial aim of education. It is another thing that it has been accepted in different forms in different societies at different times. For example, materialistic societies consider the body as an end, they believe that healthy body is the first pleasure. On the contrary, spiritualistic societies consider the body as a means; they believe that the healthy body is the means for higher meditation and self-realization.

At present in the field of education, by physical development of the children is meant strengthening the muscles and different organs of the body of the children, development and training of their organs of action and perception and development and sublimation of their instincts. For it, asanas, exercises and sports are arranged, they are given the opportunities or the use of their sense organs, they are taught the methods to keep away to diseases, and they are made aware for proper diagnosis and treatment in case of becoming ill.

[II] Mental Development

This is also a universal and perennial aim of education, but it has been taken in different forms by different people. In ancient India, by mental development was meant enhancement of knowledge. There was a time when the slogan of 'knowledge for knowledge' was given in our country. The similar tale can be seen in other countries too In the present times, the educationists who believe in faculty psychology take mental development as the development of these faculties such as memory, observation, imagination and reasoning of the children. Some scholars consider the development of reasoning as mental development while some others include intellectual development in it. Intellect is the power of taking decision of true and false by reasoning on the basis of clear knowledge and experience. It has given forth the slogan of education For mental and intellectual development.

In present times, by mental development in the field of education is meant the knowledge of language for communication of ideas, knowledge of different subjects for the knowledge of material and spiritual world, development of mental faculties, such as- memory, observation, imagination, logic, thinking, meditation, generalization and decision-taking, etc., training in distinguishing truth and untruth on the basis of reasoning, development of their faculty of logic, and to protect them from mental illnesses (fear, pessimism, complexes, etc.) and to produce in them mental stimulators (fearlessness, optimism and self-confidence, etc.). And for this all, children are given opportunities for free expression. By it, the communication of thoughts and language development take place simultaneously. The knowledge of different subjects and training in different activities are helpful in the intellectual development of the children. In present times, the children are given opportunities for learning by doing. It brings about the development of their mental powers, such as- memory, observation, imagination and logic, etc. The children are behaved with love and sympathy, so they are protected from fear, they become fearless, they are protected from pessimism, they become optimists, they are protected from complexes, they become self-confident.

[III] Social Development

Man is a social being. The psychologists have found out that he has the instinct of gregariousnes which inspires him to live in group. In group, sometimes he loves others and sometimes hates them, sometimes he shows sympathy towards others, and sometimes enmity; and sometimes he cooperates with others and sometimes he does not. Generally people term the development of feelings of love, sympathy cooperation as social development. The sociologists have explained that each person learns the language, living style, customs and conduct of his society to adjust in the society. Some people call the training in these activities as social development, but in the terminology or sociology it is socialization. Moreover, if a person would have only adjusted in his society, he would have not achieved this development. He has all the power to understand the good and evil of his society, and he tries to accept the good and to do away with the evil, and in sociological terminology, it is call social change.  All these are included in the periphery of social development.

It is very essential to bring about social development of the children. Without social development the children can neither adjust in their society, nor can bring about, social change. The social development of persons is also necessary in order to accept the social changes.

However, only bringing about social development of the children does not exhaust the functions of education. It will have to effect all types of physical, mental cultural, moral, character, vocational and spiritual development of children.

[IV] Cultural Development

Generally, whatever the members of a society have thought, understood and done good is called the culture of that society. Sociologists call all physical or material achievements as material culture and ideological achievements as non-material culture.

In our view by the culture of a society is meant that specific living style, eating habits, customs, art, skill, music, dance, Language, literature, religion and philosophy in which it has faith and all its members consider their culture as the supreme and conduct themselves according to it, and thus the culture of a society is preserved. Besides, the intellectual people of each society experience new things, they understand the reality of their experiences by their reasoning power and when it is felt necessary, they negate the untruth and propound new truths. Thus, development in a society's culture takes place However, it has been seen that any culture does not leave its original or fundamental form, it is its greatest feature.

Each society has its own culture and it transmits it to the next generation. It is a universal and perennial fact. So it is but natural for any society to have the cultural development of its children as one of the aim of education.

[V] Moral and Character Development

Moral and character development is the chief aim of education. Every society has its certain principles and rules of conduct. Morality and character are inseparable. One cannot be thought of in the absence of another. However, in different disciplines, morality and character have been analysed differently. The humanists consider conduct as favourable to society in the form of  morality and character. Psychologists accept the group of good habits and firm will power as character. Spiritualists consider self-refrain and conduct favourable to religion as morality and character. Literature takes abidance by the social rules as morality and character. Those who do not abide by morality have their own character. A robber has his own unique character, it is another thing whether it is good or bad.

In the field of education, when we speak of moral and character development we mean that the society takes its children forward to the abidance by conduct rule with firm will power. And conduct depends on the geographical situation, philosophical ideology, social structure, political system, economic system, scientific progress and material and spiritual achievements. In religious societies, religion is the basis o morality. And because most of the people in the world adhere to one or the other religion, their conduct is based on their respective religions, so generally people d not distinguish between religion and morality. In our view too, morality based o religion is the true morality; but there is certain degree of helplessness in our country There are several religions and communities in our country. We cannot impart the education of morality as based on any one specific religion

[VI] Vocational Development

The vocational aim of education is meant to train the children, according to their interests, aptitudes, abilities and needs, in certain production works, such as Deming, or in certain professions such as-shopkeeping, teaching, law and medicine practice, or in certain small industry, such as weaving, spinning, carpentry, ironsmithery, leather work, or providing them technological, management and administration education for running the heavy industries.

Vocational aim of education is an important aim of education. The most basic needs of man include bread, cloth and shelter. Education should fulfill our basic needs. The development of art, literature and music also requires money. In the present times, there is no limit to the physical needs and as such, we need much money. We can get this money by production or industry. If we educate the children in production or industry, then they will take its benefit, and it will certainly eradicate unemployment and poverty, and our country will become prosperous. 

[VII] Education of Political System and Citizenship

In the field of education, by the education of political system is meant to acquaint the people with the qualities of the political system of the country. But the knowledge of a political system has no meaning until the citizens have loyalty towards it and conduct themselves according to it. The rights and duties of the citizens in: country's political system are definite. The education of citizenship aims at inspiring the citizens to acquaint themselves with their rights and duties and to conduct themselves accordingly. 

In the present times, it is a compulsory aim of education in all the countries of the world. By it a nation develops its citizens according to its beliefs and acquaint them with their rights and duties and encourages them to conduct themselves accordingly. It makes the citizens aware of their duties towards the country, and the become active for its progress. For the development of national integration, the education of political system and citizenship is essential.

[VIII] Realization of the Needs and Aspirations of the Nation

There are so many countries in the world, and each of them has numerous small and large societies. These countries have their specific needs. Besides, they have their own aspirations, and these needs and aspirations keep changing. For example. class difference is increasing in our society, and we aspire that our society becomes a classless society, and our country is backward and we have the aspiration to make it advanced, and for these, we are taking the help of education. 

In the field of education, by realization of national needs and aspirations is meant the arrangement of such education by which needs and aspirations of the country are realized. 

Education is the fundamental means of human development. So it is necessary that it should prepare citizens and society for the solution of prevalent problems and fulfillment of aspirations of the individual and society, and it should be its contemporary aim.

 [IX] Spiritual Development

This is the supreme aim of education. It is another thing that there is no provision for it in the education controlled by state, and if it exists in some states, it is in the form of education of a particular religion. Most of the people of the world consider man as the sum total of body, mind and soul. The development of body and mind are the two foremost aims of education. Besides, man is a social being too. So they also talk about his social, cultural, moral and character development. Man has certain physical, mental and social needs for the realization of which all of us think of vocational development. However, spiritual development has been left out between, we fail to understand why.

By spiritual development in the field of education is meant that man has to be acquainted with the reality of the whole universe, he has to be acquainted with his self-power and he has to be acquainted with the abstract omnipotent existence.