The article, ‘Functional and Conflict Theories of Educational Stratification’ authored by Randall Collin, tries to find out reason for the cliché higher technical education is a solution for all professional problem of a person. It seeks to find out the reality behind an almost ritualized belief that higher technical education leads to prosperity and wealth by opening-up gates for elitist white-collar job. Hence there has been an increasing demand for the same all across the developed economies. A great deal of government wealth along with public wealth is being spent for technological education. It’s beheld as a vehicle for development of the individual and the state.
Randall Collins is an American sociologist who is a professor at University of Pennsylvania, U.S. He believes that increased reliance on education for higher occupational attainment has turned education into a potential tool for social mobility as well as for social stratification in America. Hence he tries to find out the link between education and social stratification through a Functional and Conflict perspective as mentioned below.
Technical-function theory
Conflict theory
Technical-function theory
According to this theory social origins being a constant it is seen that the higher the number of years of education the more is the occupational attainment. The other implication is that technological advancements have led to the increase in skill requirements necessary for employment, and education system is reflecting just the same. The functionalist approach states that there is a fixed set of jobs with a fixed set of required skills for each. The labour force must acquire these skillsets in order to get hired. Hence the fixed skillset required for a job position determines the eligibility of a person to achieve it. According to functional proposition social change is explained through