ESC3701
ASSIGNMENT 2 2025
UNIQUE NO.
DUE DATE: 2025
, ESC3701 – ASSIGNMENT 02 ANSWERS (Sociology of Education – Part B)
Question 1: Provide a brief explanation of what Sociology of Education, as a
discipline, entails. (10)
Sociology of Education is a branch of sociology that studies how educational institutions
affect individuals and societies. It examines:
The role of schools in socialisation.
How education reproduces or challenges social inequalities.
Interactions between learners, teachers, and the community.
Influences of race, class, gender, and culture in education.
How education serves both individual development and societal needs.
It provides insight into how societal structures impact schooling and how schools
influence society.
Question 2: Briefly explain Parsons’s view on the fundamental premises of
Functionalism. (10)
Talcott Parsons saw society as a system working toward equilibrium. His key
functionalist ideas include:
Schools act as agents of socialisation, teaching shared norms and values.
Education serves as a bridge between family and wider society.
Schools promote meritocracy by rewarding achievement and ability.
They allocate individuals into appropriate social roles based on talent and effort.
Education maintains social stability by integrating diverse groups into common
culture.
ASSIGNMENT 2 2025
UNIQUE NO.
DUE DATE: 2025
, ESC3701 – ASSIGNMENT 02 ANSWERS (Sociology of Education – Part B)
Question 1: Provide a brief explanation of what Sociology of Education, as a
discipline, entails. (10)
Sociology of Education is a branch of sociology that studies how educational institutions
affect individuals and societies. It examines:
The role of schools in socialisation.
How education reproduces or challenges social inequalities.
Interactions between learners, teachers, and the community.
Influences of race, class, gender, and culture in education.
How education serves both individual development and societal needs.
It provides insight into how societal structures impact schooling and how schools
influence society.
Question 2: Briefly explain Parsons’s view on the fundamental premises of
Functionalism. (10)
Talcott Parsons saw society as a system working toward equilibrium. His key
functionalist ideas include:
Schools act as agents of socialisation, teaching shared norms and values.
Education serves as a bridge between family and wider society.
Schools promote meritocracy by rewarding achievement and ability.
They allocate individuals into appropriate social roles based on talent and effort.
Education maintains social stability by integrating diverse groups into common
culture.
