Philosophy of education in Kenya

Abstract

This thesis examines some philosophical assumptions underlying Kenya's formal system of education and their links to social and educational policies. It therefore also deals with the purposes and objectives of education. Education as a social process involving the transmission of culture is universal, and its purpose both to the individual and the society at large is basically utilitarian. However, the manner in which an individual is educated and what is inculcated into him may depend or vary according to the prevailing circumstances. For this reason, educational ends do, or vary from one society to another. If a society has developed or inherited a formal system of education, and if the same society uses the educational system as a means to individual success and overall development, the subject of education acquires socio-economic ramifications. And to begin to, or to continue looking at education as a panacea for the society's socio-economic ills and problems as is happening in Kenya, is as good as overlooking or disregarding most relevant issues to a problem and expecting to arrive at a meaningful or relevant solution.