Education is a multi-layered process that aims not only at the transfer of knowledge but also at the intellectual, moral and social development of the individual. In this respect, education should be considered as a philosophical and social issue beyond being pedagogical. Philosophy of education is an interdisciplinary field that produces deep thoughts on the nature, purpose and function of education. According to John Dewey, education is life itself, where the individual interacts with his/her environment through experience; it transforms the individual both personally and socially. Paulo Freire, on the other hand, sees education as the fundamental tool of critical thinking and social liberation; he argues that traditional education systems make the individual passive. Education does not only support the academic development of the individual; it also makes the individual a part of the social structure and the subject of change and transformation. Educational approaches are shaped in line with different values and goals within the framework of movements such as perennialism, essentialism, progressivism and reconstructionism. These approaches play a decisive role in how education will transform society or maintain the current order. There is a two-way interaction between the social structure and the education system. Education plays an important role in maintaining social order, but it can also be a trigger for change and reform. This is clearly seen in practices such as Village Institutes. In conclusion, education is a dynamic process with ideological and political dimensions that directs social change as well as individual development.

Education, individual, social structure, ideology, perennialism, social transformation.