The Role of Education in Social Change

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”-Nelson Mandela.
Our world is a hub of death, disease, unpredictable climatic changes, earthquakes and war like
situations. We are speed rocketing into a future of uncertainty. The circumstances of our present
situation call for a positive social change.
World literacy rate as per 2019 is 86.48% and we continue to battle the evils of illiteracy, superstition,
blind believes and age-old traditions. Discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, gender, race and
religion are comfortably accepted in the society. Crime rates are soaring at an all-time high.
Corruption, fraud and cybercrime are the new norm. Drug abuse continues to strengthen its grips.
Considerable percentage of population is pushed towards poverty and unemployment on a regular
basis. Unfortunately, the aggregate of educated people contributing towards social evil is appalling.
Added to our miseries are the unstable weather conditions with superstorms, draughts, tsunamis and
extreme temperatures. Dysfunctional climate has breed new diseases of aggressive and deadly nature.
Pollution leading to global warming is progressing on an expeditious rate. Human population is on a
steady increase as deforestation continues to strip the planet of its natural reserve. Our world is on
the verge of a massive collapse.
Education has the power to reform the society and liberate us from this grim reality. Thru education
new values can be implemented which will bring about the desired social change. Spreading
awareness among people about the various global environmental issues and encouraging them to use
eco-friendly products has initiated a new trend to “go green”. Education alone can bring about social
change in a peaceful manner though interaction of younger generation via social media. Awareness
campaigns on various social issues on platforms like Facebook, twitter, Instagram etc facilitates wide
ranging active participation of the youth.
Social change has to be planned in order to achieve the goals of the society, this can be done by
planning education in accordance with the needs and aspirations of people as a whole. Teachers
should encourage students to work for social change by inculcating programmes involving active
participation of students. Schools can undertake projects to help students to develop the moral
strength to build a community of justice and peace. For example, projects to stop global warming,
deforestation, stop bullying, drug abuse etc.
Establishing a curriculum for the prison population and empowering them with education and
rehabilitation can cut down on the crime rates. Education provides opportunities for new ideas and
businesses catering to the problem of unemployment. undeniably education acts as a key agent of
social change.
Nevertheless, education alone cannot achieve the goal of social change, it requires people to be selfmotivated and work relentlessly towards the idea of building a better future by bringing about a
favourable social change