Meaning of Education

1.3 Meaning of Education

Generally, Education means acquisition of knowledge, understanding, intelligence, conscience, wisdom etc. Common people think it is the process, which takes place in schools and college, and the person who has acquired a certificate from these institutions, can only be termed as educated. However, in real sense, it is not limited only to schooling. There is no limit of time, place and age for acquisition of knowledge or education. People can acquire education everywhere, in every moment of their life without the bound of age. They can receive education from every source such as schools, parents, society, peer circle, mass media etc. It can be planned or unplanned. The meaning of education can be discussed from the following perspectives:

Etymological meaning of Education
Narrower Meaning of Education
Wiser meaning of Education

1. Etymological meaning of Education Etymology means the study of the origin and history of words and their meanings. It is the science of the origin and history of particular word. The English word" Education" comes from the Latin word " Educatum" , ' Educare', and ' Educere'. To find out the origination, meaning and history of these words is called etymological meaning of education.

Educatum: The Latin word Educatum consists of two Latin words' Edu' and' catum'. Edu stands for 'internal' (out of) and catum means 'to lead out'. As such Educatum means to bring all innate power and creativity of the learners or to foster the innate potentialities of students by teaching and training.
Educare: Educare consists of two words as 'E' and ducare.' E' means out of and 'ducare' means lead out. As such Educare means to educate, to bring up, to raise or to nourish.
Educere: Educere also consists of two Latin words as 'E' and 'Ducere'.' E' means' out of' and ducere means' to lead out'. As such, Educere means to enhance the ability of an individual by strengthening innate creativity and potentiality.
Shiksha: in Nepali is derived from the word Sanskrit language. It is derived from Sanskrit morpheme ' Shiksh' which means to' learn and to teach'.
Vidhya is also a Nepali word which is derived from Sanskrit language. It is made up of Sanskrit morpheme 'Vid' which means' to know. ' Based on etymological sources, it can be concluded that education is a process, which brings the internal potentialities of a learner outside. It is the process of training, raising the children and drawing out the fuller internal ability of an individual.

2. Narrower Meaning of Education

In the narrow sense, education is limited within the boundary of a school and college. It covers only the area of formal education. It is a process by which, a person acquires knowledge needed to fulfill the demand of job market. This type of education follows a definite curriculum and takes place in a formal institutions such as school, colleges etc. Only the people trained or taught in these institutions and who have received certificates as a mark of success can be considered as educated. This type of education as bookish knowledge, which may not be adequate for the overall development of learners. This type of education can be considered only as training or teaching. This type of education is teacher oriented and traditional type of teaching which is generally autocratic in nature. In fact, education, which is conducted within the limit of curriculum, subject matters, teaching duration, teaching procedures, teaching materials, evaluation process etc. irrespective of individual differences, needs, necessities, interests and aspirations, is regarded as narrow meaning of education.

3. Wider meaning of Education

In wider sense, education refers to all aspects that a person learns, knows and experiences throughout his/her entire life. Education is not limited to the boundary of formal education. It is related to all the knowledge, skills and attitudes, which people acquire in the course of their life from various sources. It is not limited to certain duration of schooling only. It takes place throughout the life from the cradle to the grave. Institutions of formal education are not the only source of providing education. It can be acquired from any source, at any place and at any time. Education is life-long process. Education is re-construction and re-organization of experiences so it can be acquired from any sources. All the human experiences, which enable people to solve the problems of life and adjust them in society, can be considered as education.

1.3 Definitions of Education

Pestalozzi - Education is the natural, harmonius and progressive development of man's innate power.
Aristotle - Education is the creation of sound mind in a sound body.
Kautilya - Education means training of country and love of nation.
Rousseau - Education is nothing but formation of habits.
M.K Gandhi - By education, I mean the all round drawing out of the best in child and man-body, mind and soul.
John Deway - Education is the development of all those capabilities in an individual which will enable him/her t ocontrol his/her environment and fulfill his/her possibilities.

All of the above definitions of education can be classified into following four categories:

Education is the development of innate power. (Socrates, Froebele, Pestalozzi, Gandhi)
Education is the complete development of a person. (Nunn, Kant, Comenius)
Education is adjustment to environment. (Horne, james, Jhon Dewey )
Education is a shaping of behaviour. (Rousseau, Drevery, Thompson)