The relation of education to social cohesion

Abstract

This article examines the ways education is related to social cohesion, mainly in sociology of education approaches. The notion of cohesion is used widely, especially as a noble aim worth striving at, in order to sustain the ties that keep society together. Education is viewed as an important institution that contributes to cohesion by socialising the new members of society, providing them with knowledge and skills in order to facilitate their social participation. Sustaining however current societal organisation implies that social inequality is also reproduced. Thus, we argue that, the question of cohesion is inter alia a political one.