Introduction

Education is a life-long process. That is, it begins at birth, and ends at death. Education
transforms the helpless infant into a matured adult, and this makes education to be significant
and remarkable. This transformation is achieved through the contribution of various institutions
and bodies. The various institutions and bodies which have contributed to the upbringing and
education of the individuals are the agencies of education, which include the home, school,
peer-group, mass media, religions institutions,
and the community.

The Family/ Home as an Agent

The family or home is made up of the father, mother and children and it is regarded as the
primary agent of education . The family as an agent of education, parents are the most
important agent for the child at the very early stages of his development from the child
depending on them for his physiological and psychological needs. This is based on the premise
that home is the first station of a child and where he learns the appropriate behaviour patterns of
the larger
society.

The role of the family in the education the child cannot be over –emphasized. According to
Akinloye , family lays the moral and spiritual foundation for the child to build upon in later life.
The family members teach the concept of good and bad or right and wrong right from
[Link]. home contributes to the intellectual development of the child. A number of
activities are planned as provided by the family to assist the child to grow intellectually. It is the
family that helps the child to develop language. This is done through imitation. Learning in
school becomes easier when he starts schooling.

Every child is an extension of his or her family. The child acquired the values of the society
from his family. No family will be willing to associate with failure. Hence, the family ensures that
the child is prepared for the challenges of life. If the family fulfils its educational function a firm
basis would have been laid for the school to build upon.

The school

The family alone can not provide all that is required for the education of that is required
for the education of that child. He is therefore sent to the school where professionally trained
personnel are involved in the upbringing of the child. The school is an institution where the
behaviour of an individual is shaped to prepare him to be an effective and functional member of
his society. It is the school that can be regarded as a factory where the child is processed into a
refined personality that can cope with the increasing complexity in the labour market and also
initialization. Like the family, the school is an institution where the culture of the society is
transmitted; it also helps the child to develop skills necessary for survival in the society. In
addition, the school also develops the child's civic consciousness for effective citizenship.
These roles are achieved by teaching subjects like social studies, government e.t.c School to
enable the child to interact at a wider level with other children, thereby bringing about mutual
understanding and respect for other people's culture and their opinions. The school is an agent
for national development. Clubs like scout movement, Drama and Debating Societies, Boys
Brigade, Red-cross etc. are established which introduce the child to co-curricular activities like
drama debating games to socialize the children. In performing its roles, the school is
complemented by the home schools should therefore instill in children good attitudes, usable
skills and knowledge that will make the children develop and contribute meaningfully in their
various communities.

THE PEER GROUP AS AN AGENT

This is the social relationship between people who fall within the same age range peer
group exerts great influence on the education of individuals. This is because every group has a
common interest. Peer group, according to Musgrave is a group in which the child spends more
time with other children interacting closely both at home and the school. In the course of their
interaction, children emulate themselves, especially those of their interest.

When a child interacts with others, the freedom and equal status of the peer group help the
child to acquire a culture of democracy. The members of the peer group express their feelings
freely, ask questions and even demonstrate their potential. The respect and loyalty which
members have for the group assists them to learn.

However it should be noted that members are from different socio – economic and cultural
backgrounds. It is this different background that help the child to learn many things which may
not be possible while he is alone. At this level, the see themselves as equal and do not
discriminate against one another. Therefore peer groups provide children the opportunity to
play many social roles. For instance a child may play the role of a teacher, a doctor, a lawyer
and so on. The children tend to exhibit and develop interest in certain professions. When
children mingle together while females are together. At other time play together both sexes play
together
to prevent sex discrimination.

The conditions that exist in the relationship among children facilitate intellectual
development. They learn more when children are together. This is because, at home, the
parents may refuse to answer their question and they may be too shy to ask the teacher in the
school. When children play in their peer group, they ask questions feely and members who have
answers give them. The children atimes meet to discuss academic questions. This may be
generated from debate and quizzes. Children should be encouraged to keep good company and
avoid bad ones.
Mass Media as an Agent

The mass media comprises the newspapers, radio television, computer, internet. Etc.
Mass media provides information education and entertainment. It has been observed that the
mass-media available to a child goes a long way to determine.

A child that is exposed to newspapers and fond of stories on a particular column of the
newspaper, the tendency is to show interest in reading the aspect of the newspaper. The habit
he develops for reading has academic and educational value. That is why newspaper and
magazine should publish stories that are of value to the society in order to enhance
all round development of the child.

The government ties the mass media in putting certain programmes across to citizens
During this period, the mass-median serves as an agent for the propagation of government
programs. Mass media through improved communication technology. Has reduced the whole
world into a global village. Through the mass media from Nigeria and even other parts of the
world can be heard. Mass media also assists in transmitting cultural values. These programmes
propagated by the mass media not only gives the children to have ideal of the nature of other
people culture. It also helps the child /to have broader knowledge and understanding of the lives
of other people.

It is on this basis that the child should be exposed to programmes in the mass media that
will enrich the ‘intellectual development of the child and avoid those that will destroy him. The
government should control or monitor the kind of materials which the media gives to the public;
only those that promote the values of the society should be allowed.

Religious institutions

Religious institutions are a good means of educating the individual. They seek to modify
the behaviours of their members desirably and permanently, till Eternity, since any departure
from the approved teachings is believed by the adherents to be capable of leading them to
jeopardy. All religious preach tolerance. Honesty, love, humility and other virtues to members.
They attempt to correct what they deem to be detestable attitudes. Values, and opinions.
Religious institutions promote education by establishing schools.

The Community

Another crucial agency of education is the community. It offers definite environments that
supply the learner’s personal experiences which the school taps. The socio psychology
experience involving the community goes a long way in determining the learner’s educational
attainments. Yet. These educational values of the community can be said to be intrinsic.

The extrinsic role of the community in educational development is not less significant
unless a ;community ,offers the needed land a proprietor may find it very difficult to establish
school. Even after marking the land available the community works with the school to endure
the lather’s progress, development and growth, many communities, like progress, development,
and missionaries, really established their own schools before government grant-aided the
schools. Despite the grant�aiding communities continue to provide funds and facilities to the
schools and monitor the teaching learning process in their own ways.

The different spheres of the life of the community promote intellectual development by
serving as foci of research activities at the higher levels of education. Findings from the
research effort usually lead to solutions to specific problems contributing to the community. In
other words, a mutual relationship exists between the community and the school . In order that
the community /may continue to discharge its education duties effectively scholars have
suggested that the government embark on a dynamic population policy . A balanced people
would have little difficulty supporting educational programmes.

Conclusion

Thus education is a process that depends on inputs from many agencies. the experience
of life that the recipient of formal education carries into the teaching learning situations derive
from such agencies as the home. School, peer group, mass media, religious institutions, and
community. The agencies provide the experiences intrinsically by
emphasizing good morals, tolerance, humility, nationalism, nationalism, love, honesty, and other
attributes. They also support education by making funds and facilities available to the
institutions of learning. They monitor learning activities and participate in curriculum
development. Hence the government is always out to empower the agencies.