Education & Social Change - 2 | Sociology Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Education and Social Mobility

Education plays a crucial role in promoting upward social mobility in urban-industrial societies. In these societies, occupation serves as the main channel for social mobility, and certain jobs require specific educational qualifications. As a result, education becomes crucial in facilitating and promoting upward social mobility. According to sociologist Reid, the educational system aims to provide individuals with the necessary qualifications and aspirations to fulfill society's occupational needs. The system is designed to encourage and facilitate upward social mobility, as it is considered a desirable characteristic of society.

• Peter Blau and Otis Duncan's (1967) study on social mobility in America found that a key factor in determining whether a son achieved a higher social status than his father was the level of education the son received. Higher education is a valuable and limited resource, and people compete fiercely for it.
• As awareness of the importance of college-level education has grown, more people are seeking higher education to improve their social standing. Consequently, the number of new college graduates has increased significantly, surpassing the number of available college-level jobs. It has been estimated that only 15% of the increase in educational requirements for jobs during this century can be attributed to the replacement of low-skill jobs with new jobs requiring greater expertise [Collins]. Instead, the educational threshold has risen, meaning that people now need higher qualifications to obtain jobs that previously required lower educational credentials.

Lack of Educational Qualification Restricts Social Mobility
In developed countries, individuals often strive to attain higher levels of education to better position themselves for prestigious job opportunities. It has been observed that many people seek additional years of education, even when it may not be required for specific jobs or professions they are interested in. Research has shown that there is no consistent correlation between educational achievement and job performance or productivity in the long run. However, what is crucial to note is that the absence of educational qualifications can limit the social mobility of those who, for various reasons, have not been able to acquire them.

Education as a Solvent of Inequalities ?
Education can be considered as a tool to reduce inequalities to a certain extent, particularly in societies where traditional systems of stratification have restricted social mobility. The introduction of formal education, such as the British education system in India, has provided opportunities for individuals who were previously restricted to lower or intermediate social statuses to strive for higher positions in the changing social landscape. This is evident in the progress made by members of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and backward classes. In such contexts, education has the potential to significantly transform the existing social hierarchy, making it a powerful means of addressing inequalities.

Education and Internal and External Factors Affecting Mobility
Mobility within a social structure can be hindered by various factors, which are categorized as internal or external constraints. Internal constraints include an individual's values, aspirations, and personality patterns, while external constraints relate to the opportunities available in society.

• Belief and Value System: One of the primary obstacles to upward mobility is the belief and value system ingrained in a social structure. Studies have shown that individuals from lower socio-economic backgrounds place less importance on higher education as a means of advancement and are less likely to seek higher education for their children. This is true in the Indian context as well. Moreover, educational opportunities for the lower classes, especially in rural areas, are often limited. Consequently, the prevailing value system influences their aspirations and actions, causing them to fall behind their upper-class counterparts.
• Family Influence: Family dynamics can also limit upward mobility. Research has found that an individual's occupational plans and aspirations are positively correlated with the prestige of their father's occupation. If a family lacks initiative, this may be reflected in the child's unwillingness to break away from family traditions. The child may choose a job that aligns with their parents' expectations within the family hierarchy, and may not prioritize education if their parents do not value it. This influence is particularly evident in joint families.
• Individual Personality Factors: A person's personality traits can also contribute to their immobility. Studies have shown that factors such as achievement motivation, intelligence, aspirations, and values are related to mobility. One study found that IQ (Intelligence Quotient) plays a significant role in academic performance during the early years of an individual's life. However, as individuals grow older, they begin to shape their performance based on values learned from family and friends. In this context, the desire to attend college is considered an aspect of upward mobility, with high-performing individuals being more likely to attend college and achieve upward mobility.

Research has also shown that a strong achievement motive is closely related to upward mobility. It appears that youth from the upper strata of society may not require strong personal motivation for mobility, as they receive sound advice, live in an environment that encourages success, and are provided with informed decisions for their career paths. This is not the case for lower-class youth, who must learn a great deal to make informed decisions about their future.

Equality of Educational Opportunities

The principle of equal educational opportunities is a fundamental policy upheld by democratic nations worldwide. As Dr. Radhakrishnan emphasized, democracy aims to provide equal opportunities for individuals to develop their unique talents, despite their inherent differences. In line with this democratic ideal, the Indian Constitution includes articles 15, 16, 17, 38, and 48, which ensure that the State does not discriminate against individuals based on their religion, region, caste, or class.

• The Constitution's Preamble also guarantees equality for all citizens, demonstrating the nation's commitment to upholding the principle of equality as an essential belief. In accordance with this constitutional spirit, the Education Commission has stated that one of the primary social objectives of education is to create equal opportunities. This enables individuals from disadvantaged or underprivileged backgrounds to use education as a tool for improving their lives and circumstances.
• For a society that values social justice and aims to enhance the well-being of its citizens, it is crucial to ensure progressive equality of opportunity for all segments of the population. By doing so, the society can foster an egalitarian and humane environment, where the exploitation of vulnerable individuals is minimized.

Need for Equalisation of Educational Opportunities

The equalization of educational opportunities is fundamentally connected to the notions of equality in the social system. A social system that aims to provide equal opportunities for the growth and development of all individuals must also ensure equal access to education. Emphasizing equality in education is crucial for several reasons, which are outlined below.

• Establishing an egalitarian society: Ensuring equal educational opportunities is essential for creating a society based on social equality and justice. If everyone has access to quality education, it will help reduce the disparities and inequalities that exist in society.
• Identifying and nurturing talent: Providing equal educational opportunities enables a nation to tap into the potential of all its citizens by identifying talented individuals from all sections of society. This helps in fostering innovation and creativity, which are vital for a nation's progress.
• Ensuring national growth and development: Equal access to education is crucial for the rapid advancement of a nation. When people are educated, they become more productive and contribute positively to the nation's economy, leading to overall growth and development.
• Strengthening democracy: A successful democracy relies on educated and enlightened citizens who can make informed decisions and participate actively in the democratic process. Equal educational opportunities ensure that everyone has the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute effectively to the functioning of a democracy.
• Bridging the gap between manpower needs and skilled personnel availability: Equal educational opportunities help create a closer link between a society's manpower requirements and the availability of skilled personnel. When people from all sections of society have access to quality education, it becomes easier to meet the demands of various sectors and industries, ensuring a skilled workforce that can drive the nation's progress.

Problems Concerning Equality of Opportunities in Education
The role of education in promoting equality and fostering social justice is unquestionable. However, the education system can also contribute to widening existing inequalities or perpetuating them, posing a significant challenge in providing equal educational opportunities for all. 

Education and Modernisation
Education has emerged as a crucial aspect in today's modern industrial society. It is now viewed as a catalyst for social change rather than merely a tool for social control, and has become increasingly secular in nature. Countries across the globe are heavily investing in education, as it has become a vital prerequisite for progress.

• In the context of modernization, advancements in science, technology, and industry are closely linked to education. Formal professional education has now become a necessity for individuals not only to acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills but also to secure a livelihood. Education serves as the primary source of trained and skilled personnel for various industries, and the type of job one obtains today largely depends on the quality of education acquired.
• Modern educational institutions, such as schools, colleges, and universities, differ from their traditional counterparts in terms of the emphasis they place on transmitting a particular way of life to students. This can be attributed to the fact that traditional education was designed for a static, unchanging society, one that did not experience the rapid changes associated with industrialization.
• In contrast, modern society is characterized by constant change, and education in this context aims to impart empirical knowledge, such as scientific, technological, and other specialized information. As a result, a transformation has occurred in both the content and methodology of education to cater to the needs of this ever-evolving society.

Social Planning: Can Change be Directed?

Is it possible to predict and control the direction of social change? Most significant social changes in the past, such as the New Left, the youth counterculture, the black nationalist movement, and the new feminist movement, were unpredicted by social scientists. Predicting future changes by merely extending recent trends is often inaccurate, as demonstrated by past failed predictions.

• Some scholars believe that social change is driven by forces beyond our control, such as the development of new inventions, conflicts arising from differing needs and cultural backgrounds, and the influence of external factors on society. In these cases, the events that transpired were likely the only possible outcomes given the circumstances.
• However, other social scientists argue that it is possible to influence the course of social change through social planning, which involves making informed decisions about the direction society should take. This approach has been successfully implemented in communist societies, where decision-making is centralized and plans are detailed. In the United States, social planning has been used to shape society through policies like the Homestead Act, zoning ordinances, and public education.
• Critics of social planning argue that these efforts only create more orderly ways of implementing inevitable changes, rather than truly altering the course of events. While major social changes may be uncontrollable, social planning may help reduce the time and resources needed to adapt to these changes.
• Predictions about the future impact of technology, such as computers and robots, on society are abundant, but their accuracy remains uncertain. While we may never be able to accurately predict the future, understanding the potential for both inevitable and directed social change can help inform our decisions as we shape the world we live in.

Conclusion

Education plays a critical role in promoting social mobility and reducing inequalities in modern societies. Ensuring equal educational opportunities is essential for fostering an egalitarian society, nurturing talent, and driving national growth and development. However, challenges persist in achieving truly equal access to education, which can perpetuate existing disparities. As society continues to evolve, the importance of education in facilitating social change and adaptation cannot be underestimated. While accurately predicting the future may be impossible, understanding the dynamics of education and social mobility can help inform policy and decision-making to create a more equitable and just society.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) of Education & Social Change

How does education promote social mobility in urban-industrial societies?

Education plays a crucial role in promoting upward social mobility in urban-industrial societies by providing individuals with the necessary qualifications and aspirations to fulfill society's occupational needs. Higher education, in particular, is a valuable and limited resource that people compete for to improve their social standing and gain access to better job opportunities.

How does the lack of educational qualifications restrict social mobility?

The absence of educational qualifications can limit the social mobility of those who have not been able to acquire them, as many prestigious job opportunities require specific educational credentials. Even if educational achievement does not consistently correlate with job performance or productivity in the long run, the lack of qualifications can still hinder an individual's ability to access higher social status.

Can education be considered as a tool to reduce inequalities in society?

Yes, education can be considered a tool to reduce inequalities, particularly in societies where traditional systems of stratification have restricted social mobility. By providing opportunities for individuals who were previously restricted to lower or intermediate social statuses, education has the potential to significantly transform the existing social hierarchy and address inequalities.

What are some internal and external factors affecting social mobility?

Internal factors affecting social mobility include an individual's values, aspirations, and personality patterns, while external factors relate to the opportunities available in society. Examples of internal factors are belief and value systems, family influence, and individual personality traits, such as achievement motivation and intelligence. External factors include the availability of educational opportunities and the socio-economic background of an individual.

What is the importance of equalizing educational opportunities in society?

Equalizing educational opportunities is important for establishing an egalitarian society, identifying and nurturing talent, ensuring national growth and development, strengthening democracy, and bridging the gap between manpower needs and skilled personnel availability. By providing equal access to education, societies can foster an environment that minimizes exploitation and maximizes the well-being of all citizens.