Rationalization of Education

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The Rationalisation of Education Rationality is common motive in modern society. According to Max Weber, there are four types of rationality: practical, theoretical, substantive and formal. Practical rationality is to be found in people’s mundane, day-to-day activities and reflects their worldly interests. People calculate all possible means and choose the alternatives that best allow them to reach their ultimate end, and then follow that line of action. All of us engage in practical rationality in attempting to solve the routine and daily problems in our life. Theoretical rationality involves logical deduction, the attribution of causality, and the arrangement of symbolic meanings. It is derived from the need of people to give some logical meaning to a world that appears haphazard. Practical rationality involves action, while theoretical rationality is a cognitive process. Substantive rationality involves clusters of values that guide people in their daily lives, especially in their choice of means to ends. It can be linked more specifically to economic action. Formal rationality involves the rational calculation of means to ends based on universally applied rules, regulations and laws. Weber thinks that bureaucracy is the epitome of formal rationality, which he defines in terms of efficiency, calculability, predictability and control. As we look at the education system in terms of the production of university graduates, we can observe that the impact of rationalisation exists and greatly influences our lives. Efficiency, which refers to how one finds the quickest and most productive way to achieve one’s goals, is one of the most important aspects of rationalisation. Professors assess students on their understanding of the materials being taught in class. There is often not enough time to assess each student’s understanding; hence, teachers are forced to

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