ROLE OF EDUCATION IN SOCIAL CHANGE

Education is an important instrument to bring social revolution among all the instruments education is considered as the most powerful. Education for all, at all levels, and at all ages of children is the only remedy to bring about the desired social change in Indian society. Education has been accepted as one major agency of socialization, and teachers and educational institutions as socializing agents. The relationship between education and social change takes a dual form-education as an instrument and education as a product. This implies that education as an instrument is used as a means for bringing about desired changes in the society and in the later case changes in the educational structure follows as a consequence of changes which have already taken place in the society. There are three types of relationship between education and social change which are as follows:

• Education as a Necessary Condition of Social Change- Historical experience of advanced countries has shown that for any social revolution education is the pre-condition. Illiterates remain satisfied with their existing conditions and feel that they are destined to be what they are.
• Education as an Outcome of Social Change- There is inter-dependent relationship between education and social change. On the one hand it brings change in social conditions. On the other hand it is influenced by social change, which means social change helps spreading education. Education follows social change. It has its place before and after social change First come social changes and then teaching process is changed according to those social changes. Education system changes according to the needs of society.

Education as an Instrument of Social Change- Education as an instrument of social change means how education helps people to bring social change. Education changes the outlook and the tradition approach towards social and economic problems. It sharpens the skills and knowledge of the children. Technical education helps in the process of industrialization which results in vast changes in society. Education not only preserves the cultural traditions i.e., customs, traditions and values etc. of the society but also transmits them to the next generation.

It also motivates the children to adopt new pattern in order to remain dynamic and forward looking. Education fulfils the needs of the society and propagates such ideas which promote social changes in all fields of life. Educational institutions under the control of different cul­tural groups reflect the values of those groups which support and control education. In this situation, teachers impart specific values, aspirations and attitudes to the children.

The author of this article is  Asst Professor; Pioneer institute of Professional Studies, Indore