When studying education as a social institution, the hidden curriculum constitutes:

The hidden curriculum refers to the unwritten, informal teachings and attitudes that students learn in schools beyond the official curriculum. This includes social norms, values, and behaviors that are instilled in students through the educational environment and social interactions.

The concept of latent functions encompasses those unintended or unrecognized consequences that arise from a social structure or institution. In this context, the hidden curriculum serves as a latent function because it contributes to the socialization of students in ways that are not explicitly intended or outlined by the formal curriculum. For instance, while the formal curriculum may focus on academic knowledge, the hidden curriculum teaches students about hierarchy, authority, cooperation, and cultural norms, which are critical for functioning in society but are not documented as part of the educational objectives.

Recognizing the hidden curriculum as a latent function highlights how education serves broader societal roles that go beyond the academic framework, which is crucial for understanding the complexities of the education system as a social institution.