Education and politics have a symbiotic relationship that is, education have great impact on politics. Education, or the lack thereof, influences the collective intellect, the goals and values of the body politics. The way in which a society is educated will thus determine who is able to perform a function; how the elect are elected (or chosen); how much power and control those in office will have at their disposal; what laws are considered reasonable and unreasonable; and how state officials will choose to regulate, promote and establish educational institutions.
Over the past 30 years, different political ideologies have given rise to different notions of how the state should promote social justice through education. The policies that schools are experimenting with today, such as the national curriculum, choice of school, high stakes testing, and accountability of schools through leaderboards, are the result of different political views on best way to create a world class education system. The role that education can play in promoting social justice has been particularly important.
Without good education there can be no social justice. (Cameron 2007: 84)
It is education which provides the rungs on the ladder of social mobility. (Brown 2010)
As the above quotes illustrate, the role of education in reducing inequalities and promoting social mobility is a favorite topic among politicians seeking to share their vision of a just and equitable society. However, while politicians from various parties may agree that education has a key role in promoting social justice, they differ in their views on how best to achieve it. The government has put together many policies to end our country’s illiteracy. If the leader is illiterate, there is no point in making all citizens literate. A nation without corruption will only come from a well-educated leader.
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