Education has been part of the human society from the very  beginning. Human societies throughout the ages have had vested interests  in education. The importance of education can not be overemphasized. In  fact it would not be an exaggeration to say that without education,  most societies would die. Philosophy of Education is a term that can be  used to refer to the academic field that involves applied philosophy. It  can also be used to describe philosophies that promote certain visions  of education, examining the goals, meaning and other aspects.
While  most societies will agree or acknowledge the importance of education, a  large number of them fail to channel sufficient resources that can be  used to promote and support educational institutions and activities. It  is clear to everyone that children, who are born innumerate and  illiterate, quickly learn the culture and norms of the community they  are born into, with the help of those around them and professional  teachers. Within a short time, the children are able to read, write and  act in an appropriate way. The skills improve as the child grows, and  with time, they will have learnt enough to enable them to operate in the  society without constant guidance.
Education today can serve as a  mechanism for social- sorting. People have different learning skills  with some exhibiting more facility than others. Education plays a major  role on the economic fate of every individual. Education helps to equip  individuals with the knowledge and skills that allow them to be able to  define and pursue their individual goals. It also allows people to  participate in the community, playing their part to improve their  conditions and the condition of the society at large.
While many  may view education in a very individualistic way, it is important to  look at the societal perspective. The more educated individuals there  are in the society, the more developed that society becomes.  Unfortunately most societies today are embracing the narrow view that  encourages people to get an education as a way to enhance their own  individual needs. This has led to a few individuals holding the view  that they are autonomous. In the end, this same individual's end up  living very unfulfilled lives. Education should be able to create  individuals who are assets to the society at large.Formal education  provided by the state, is an acknowledgement of the importance of  Philosophy of Education for survival of the society.