Education and Social Capital

Abstract

Current challenges facing educational systems worldwide have urged scholars to study the issues involved in the educational system. Economics of education is mainly concerned with economic impacts of educational stages. However, research has highlighted the role of social capital and how it is associated to education, as not only does education contribute to social capital but the presence and maintenance of social capital, in turn, promotes education. Focusing on the relationship between social capital and education, the current research, therefore, aims to describe and evaluate social capital and its components and functions, and to introduce the leading theorists in the field. The study then suggests that through building interactions within family and the society, individuals are able to enhance social capital in children’s education. As such, education and factors influencing it have a major role to play in establishing and promoting social capital in the society.

Keywords: social capital, social structure, educational system