Role of Education as an Instrument of Social Change.

The role of education as an instrument of social change is widely recognized today. Education can initiate change by bringing about a change in the outlook and attitudes of a person.

It can bring about a change in the pattern of social relationship and thereby, it may cause social changes. One of the purposes of education is to change person and his life and living style. To change man is to change society only.

Social changes may begin at unconscious level but soon may be promoted to the conscious level. The changes, however, do not remain at unconscious level for a long time.

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They may be initiated at unconscious level but their acceptance takes place at conscious level and it is only at this level that the changes become universally acceptable in a group, a society or a nation. Education has a dual role to perform.

First, it creates frustration in the individual with the existing situation. It prepares him to look for change, It promotes dejection, thus, unconsciously, it prepares the people towards accepting change whenever it is to be presented.

Secondly, education simply does not stop at the preparation of the individual for a change. It also enables the individual to proceed in the direction of bringing about changes in the society at conscious level.

There are number of social reformers namely, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi who made all the efforts at the basic level to bring out the social changes.

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All the reformers felt the need of sound education system to match with the rapid scenario of the social change in the society.

A reform movement is distinguished from more radical social movements such as revolutionary movements. A reform movement is a kind of social movement that aims to make gradual change, or change in certain aspects of society rather than rapid or fundamental changes.

British education became solidified into India as missionary schools were established during the 1920s. New policies in 1835 gave rise to the use of English as a medium of education.

Under the British rule in India, education was imparted through the medium of English. It not only deprived the people of the knowledge of their own language and literature.

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But also wasted the precious time of the youth in cramming the rules of grammar of a foreign language. The pattern of education developed in India during the British rule was unplanned.

Earlier educational institutions and teachers used to show a specific way of life to the students and education was more a means of social control than an instrument of social change. Modern educational institutions do not place much emphasis upon transmitting a way of life to the students.

The traditional education was meant for an unchanging static society not marked by any change. But today, education aims at imparting knowledge. Education was associated with religion.

It has become secular today. It is an independent institution now. Education has been chiefly instrumental in preparing the way for the development of science and technology.

Also read | Role of the State in Education According to Durkheim.

Education has brought about phenomenal changes in every aspect of person’s life. Francis J. Brown remarks that education is a process which brings about changes in the behavior of society.

It is a process which enables every individual to effectively participate in the activities of society and to make positive contribution to the progress of society.

According to the Education Commission (1964-66), the view of the important role of education in the national development and in building up a truly democratic society.

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The Government considered it necessary to survey and examine the entire field of education in order to realize a well balanced, integrated and adequate system of national education capable of making a powerful contribution to all aspects of national life.