Education as an Agent of Cultural Transmission

The educational system of any society is a reflection of the culture of that society. For instance, when people learn the skills of arts and crafts of their society which are all embedded in the culture of the society, the role of education then comes to focus. This is because the products of the educational system are expected to uphold the cultural heritage of the society hence the rules and regulations of the school are a reflection of the rules and regulations of the larger society (bamisaye, 1991). Virtues such as honesty, obedience, orderliness and positive use of talentrs, among others which are a part of the culture of the larger society are also taught by and in the school at all levels.

Hierarchy which is a common feature of culture of the larger society is also an integral part of the Nigerian educational system. Just as the larger society operates different authority symbols such as authority of parents over their children at home and authority of the law enforcement agents over the citizens, the school (educational) system also practices its own authority system from the head of an institution to the pupils/students of the institution. This is another way of saying that the flow of authority in the school system is a reflection of that of the larger society.