Educational expansion in Belgium: a sociological analysis using systems theory

Abstract

Modern society is characterized by the form of functional differentiation. This form organizes communication processes around special functions to be fulfilled at the level of society. The inclusion of individuals into these functional subsystems is, in modern society, not determined by birth. An individual's career is the temporal structure of the process of inclusion. These structural characteristics affect the development of the educational system within modern society, and of the demand for education of individuals. In this article, I present figures about the evolution of educational participation in Belgium. Using a systems theoretical perspective, I try to provide an explanation of this evolution. I focus on characteristics of the modern society in general, and of the educational system in particular. It follows that educational policy cannot steer or control this educational expansion. The educational system can only react autonomously