Education & Social Change - 1 | Sociology Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Schools are important public institutions in modern societies

Education is an essential means of achieving social and economic rewards in society and has become crucial for the economy. Education is now a large-scale and highly visible organization, controlled by society's dominant groups to meet their definitions of societal needs. Changes in the educational system lead to social and economic changes, increased social mobility, and a more skilled workforce for technology-based industries. Planned educational innovations, policies, and programs can contribute to social integration, a more highly educated workforce, and electorate.

• Education is a key variable in the process of social change, as it involves the socialization of younger generations. According to James Welton, education is the attempt of adult members of society to shape the development of the next generation based on their own ideals of life. Samuel Koenig points out that education is the process through which a group's social heritage is passed from one generation to the next.
• Education is also considered a factor of social change. Its role as an agent or instrument of social change and development is widely acknowledged. Education can initiate social change by altering people's outlooks and attitudes, as well as changing patterns of social relationships, leading to broader social changes. One of education's objectives is to transform individuals and their lifestyles, which in turn transforms society.
• In the past, educational institutions and teachers focused on transmitting a way of life to students. Education was more about social control than promoting social change. However, modern schools, colleges, and universities no longer emphasize this aspect. Traditional education was designed for a static, unchanging society, whereas contemporary education aims to impart empirical knowledge, such as science, technology, and other specialized fields.
• Previously, education was closely linked to religion, but today it has become a secular and independent institution. Education has played a significant role in paving the way for the development of science and technology.
• Education has brought about significant changes in every aspect of human life. Francis J. Brown states that education is a process that causes changes in societal behavior, enabling individuals to effectively participate in societal activities and contribute to societal progress. As Drucker has noted, highly educated individuals have become the central resource of today's society, and their supply is a true measure of a society's economic, military, and political potential.
• Modern education has transformed our attitudes and outlooks, influencing our customs, traditions, manners, morals, religious beliefs, and philosophical principles. It has dispelled many superstitious beliefs and irrational fears about supernatural beings, broadened our perspectives, and eliminated narrow ideals, prejudices, and misunderstandings. Higher education has also fostered more refined behavior.
• Education has significantly improved women's status in society. Educated modern women no longer tolerate double standards of morality, and education has enabled them to seek employment outside of the family. Mass education in civilized societies has particularly promoted a sense of equality.
• Regarding the relationship between education and social change and development, Peter Worsely notes that education reflects society, and educational change follows social change. While education influences development, it is also a product of prior social and economic changes in society. Education is an independent factor in social and economic development, producing intended and unintended consequences and conflicts of values and goals.

Role of Education

Education plays a crucial role in obtaining occupations, which are key determinants of social status. Therefore, schools act as agents in fulfilling the aspiration for upward social mobility. In many highly industrialized societies, such as America, Britain, and France, the proportion of people in the manual working class has steadily declined, with schools playing a significant role in transforming occupational structures and modifying class structures.

• In most developing countries, education is seen as the gateway to an improved social position, leading to an unsatisfied demand for education in these countries, such as India. Educational change in these countries can only effectively proceed if corresponding changes take place in other aspects of their social structure.
• Education also increases political awareness among the poor, which can bring about wider political changes through their increasingly organized participation in national politics. Modern states, especially totalitarian ones, have used education as an instrument for establishing their regime, controlling every aspect of education under authoritarian principles. In contrast, education in democratic countries is free and open, promoting individual consciousness of rights and responsibilities towards others.
• Education is expected to contribute to progress by modifying, preserving, and transmitting cultural heritage. In modern industrial societies, educational organizations have become innovators, gathering and storing new knowledge and promoting change in the process of transmitting that knowledge.
• It is widely believed that the educational system should dedicate itself to bringing about desirable changes, with an emphasis on research in universities reflecting the judgment that discovery is inherently good. Societies are now mobilizing their vast resources and talents to advance knowledge through educational organizations.
• However, changes do not occur at the same rate in all areas of life, and education cannot be used as an instrument to bring about any change, as it operates within the context of other institutions and is constrained by them. Different levels of education have different effects, with primary school education in developing countries enabling the population to perform tasks they would not have been able to do before. Literacy helps them to read labels, signboards, newspapers, and navigate unfamiliar cities, among other things, which are significant social changes.
• Although widespread primary education can have a significant impact on people in developing countries, the ideological content of primary school education remains largely conservative due to government-organized school systems and limited scope for teacher research and revolutionary leadership.
• In contrast, higher education encourages individuals to question everyday values, with university student movements often demanding social change in many societies. For instance, the decade between 1960 and 1970 saw numerous student uprisings resulting in social and political changes in countries such as China, India, Japan, America, Germany, France, Italy, England, and Indonesia.

Education - Social Stratification and Social Mobility

Social stratification, which arises from the process of social differentiation, refers to the categorization of individuals into different layers or strata within a society. This categorization is based on various factors, such as income, status, privileges, and opportunities. It is a universal phenomenon that occurs in all societies, resulting in social inequality. In a stratified society, those who occupy higher positions in the hierarchy enjoy greater status, opportunities, and privileges, while those in lower positions have limited access to the same.
Social mobility, on the other hand, refers to the movement of individuals or groups between different social positions or statuses. This movement, known as social mobility, allows people to change their place in the social hierarchy based on the opportunities available to them.
Two systems of social stratification can be distinguished based on the extent of social mobility:

1. The open society or fluid system of stratification is characterized by a greater scope for movement up and down the social hierarchy. Western societies with their class systems are often cited as examples of this type of stratification.
2. The closed society or rigid system of stratification is characterized by strict boundaries between different social strata, making movement between them difficult, if not impossible. The Indian caste system is often used as an example of this type of stratification.

It is important to note that these two types of stratification systems are not found in their pure forms in any society. However, existing societies may lean towards one or the other depending on specific economic and cultural conditions.

Education - as a Powerful Correlate of Social Stratification and Social Mobility
Education is a significant factor associated with social stratification and mobility. Different societies experience varying degrees of correlation between these elements, depending on their socio-economic and technological progress. In urban and industrialized societies, education is often closely linked with other factors, such as occupation, income, and wealth, which play a crucial role in determining social stratification and mobility.

Education and Social Stratification 

• Education - As a Criterion of Social Stratification: In highly developed nations, education has emerged as the primary factor in social stratification, as it significantly influences an individual's occupation and income. This is because job opportunities and career paths in these societies are largely determined by an individual's educational attainment, which in turn, impacts their financial standing and overall social status.
• Education - As a Determinant of Social Placement and Social Stratification: Education plays a crucial role in determining an individual's social placement and stratification in technologically advanced countries, as it is closely related to one's occupation and income. Typically, the most prestigious jobs in industrial societies, which often yield the highest incomes, require a higher level of education. As a result, individuals with more education are more likely to secure better jobs and enjoy higher social status, emphasizing the importance of education in shaping social hierarchies.
• The Complex Relationship between Education and Social Stratification: Education has a complex relationship with social stratification, as it can act as a generator of upward mobility but does not always do so. In fact, research has shown that social stratification has a greater effect on education than the reverse. This is because in many societies, access to higher education opportunities, such as medicine, engineering, and management, is limited and expensive. As a result, only a select, privileged section of society can afford to pursue these courses, often defended on meritocratic grounds. Consequently, education may not always promote upward social mobility but rather perpetuate existing social stratification and status retention.
• Social Stratification Affecting Lower Levels of Education: Social stratification has a significant impact on lower levels of education, particularly in rural areas. In many developing countries, high levels of wastage and stagnation are observed in school education, and this issue persists to some extent even in advanced nations. It has been found that students from lower socio-economic backgrounds tend to drop out of school in large numbers. Despite the provision of free education and additional incentives, the situation does not seem to improve significantly.

Education is often viewed as a powerful tool for social mobility and a pathway to a better future. However, the relationship between education and social stratification is more complex than it appears. While education has the potential to change the stratification system, this potential is often influenced by the existing stratification system itself. In other words, those who are already in the upper strata of society are more likely to benefit from the educational system due to their higher achievement motivation and supportive environment. Therefore, if the goal is to provide equal educational opportunities, this aspect must be taken into account and addressed accordingly.

Conclusion

Education plays a critical role in the process of social change, development, social stratification, and social mobility. While it has the potential to transform societies and promote upward mobility, it is also influenced by existing social structures and inequalities. As a result, education can sometimes perpetuate existing social stratification rather than promote change. To address these challenges, it is crucial to consider and address the complex relationships between education and social stratification, ensuring equal opportunities for all individuals, regardless of their socioeconomic backgrounds.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) of Education & Social Change

How does education act as an agent of social change and development?

Education can initiate social change by altering people's outlooks and attitudes, as well as changing patterns of social relationships, leading to broader social changes. One of education's objectives is to transform individuals and their lifestyles, which in turn transforms society. Modern education imparts empirical knowledge, such as science, technology, and other specialized fields, contributing to the development of society.

In what ways does education influence social stratification and social mobility?

Education is a significant factor associated with social stratification and mobility. In highly developed nations, education has emerged as the primary factor in social stratification, as it significantly influences an individual's occupation and income. Education plays a crucial role in determining an individual's social placement and stratification in technologically advanced countries.

How does social stratification affect access to education?

Social stratification has a significant impact on lower levels of education, particularly in rural areas. In many developing countries, high levels of wastage and stagnation are observed in school education. Students from lower socio-economic backgrounds tend to drop out of school in large numbers, and access to higher education opportunities is often limited and expensive, perpetuating existing social stratification.

Can education always promote upward social mobility?

Education has the potential to promote upward social mobility but does not always do so. Research has shown that social stratification has a greater effect on education than the reverse. The existing stratification system often influences the potential of education to change the stratification system, with those in the upper strata of society more likely to benefit from the educational system.

What steps can be taken to ensure equal educational opportunities for all social strata?

To provide equal educational opportunities, the complex relationship between education and social stratification must be taken into account and addressed accordingly. This may involve providing financial assistance, scholarships, or additional support to students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, ensuring equal access to quality education, and implementing policies that promote inclusive education and equal opportunities for all.