Which of the following is the major objective of education?

Concept

A major educational objective is a broad, learner-centred end that guides the whole process of teaching and learning. It seeks the integrated development of a learner’s capacities rather than a narrow institutional or social outcome.

Such development includes intellectual, emotional, social, moral, creative, and practical abilities, enabling the learner to become increasingly capable and autonomous.

Application

Among the given values, developing students’ inherent abilities and powers directly expresses this comprehensive learner-centred aim. It addresses what education develops within the learner across multiple domains.

Contrast

• Developing the economy is a broad social consequence to which education may contribute; it does not state the central learner-level aim.

• Discipline supports orderly conduct and learning habits, but it covers only one part of a learner’s overall development.

• Developing inherent abilities and powers covers the learner’s capacities in an integrated and comprehensive way.

• Making learners followers of teachers emphasizes dependence on authority rather than the growth of autonomy and capability.

Cross-check

A useful test is to ask which value remains valid across intellectual, emotional, social, and practical education. Only the development of inherent abilities spans all these domains, whereas the other values describe a consequence, a limited support, or dependence.

Therefore, the major objective is developing the inherent abilities and powers of students.