Comparison of the Eastern and Western Education Perspective

Meenakshi Dahal 

(School of Education, Kathmandu University, Nepal)

Abstract: Education is an ongoing learning process where individual broadened their knowledge and skills. There are various ways of learning which support children to be educated. The environment provided around helps children to learn in everyday life. Therefore, education varies from place to place and it is dependent on social context and individual learning processes. The major purpose of this paper is to discuss on the central concepts of education from the eastern and the western perspectives. This paper discusses the different aspects of education process in reference with the eastern (Vedic) and the western (pragmatism) practices. These two education perspectives of east and west are discussed on the basis of the socio-cultural approaches since these two perspectives are often associated, resulting in confusion about their similarities and differences. As the educational perspective has been shifted from spirituality to the materialism with the scientific and technical revolutions, both in eastern and the western perspectives emphasizes on the social, mental, and spiritual development. In conclusion, both the perspectives supported to self-cultivation for perfect human beings and creation of a harmonious society.

Key words: education, Veda, pragmatism, pedagogy