EDUCATION AS a TOOL FOR SOCIAL CHANGE

Education is an effective catalyst that can bring change in a world; a world that is facing numerous social, economic, and political issues. Education has the power to transform society, challenge accepted conventions, and pave the path for a brighter and more equal future in addition to its conventional duty of teaching information and skills. Nowadays access to education has become far easier whether it is taking help from assignment writers or attending online classes.

However; there still is a huge population that is deprived of education or there are many obstacles in their way to attain education. Even though; getting help with essay or any form of writing assistance has been made easier still there are a lot of people who cannot afford education, who are not accepted by educational institutes because of racial prejudices, and so on. This post is intended to shed light on education, its importance, and its role in bringing social change.

Education and its importance:

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”– Nelson Mandela

Education is the kind of light that eliminates the darkness of fear, greed, prejudice, inequality, and so many other such vices. Social change in education or education changing the society; both terms are inter-changeable because they are interdependent. Even though; formal education is defined as a system of receiving or giving instruction in educational institutes in a general manner can be defined as an enlightening process.

There are many examples of social change in education or the changes that have been brought in the society; thanks to education. The examples might vary from the growth of technology to secularization and from equality to acceptance, etc. Education has brought reforms in various sectors and is still bringing revolutions in many. The relationship between education and the economy has become a reciprocal one, with dependency running in both directions (Dunne, 2021). Some of the examples highlightening the importance of education are as follows:

• Imparts knowledge.

• Teaches humanism.

• Provides decision-making ability.

• Eliminates poverty.

• Reduces violence, corruption, and related vices.

• Bringing in new discoveries and innovations.

• Develops morality and character in an individual, and so on. 

Education as a tool for social change:

So; coming to the main question of how is education as a tool of social change? Well! The answer can be justified in the following points:

• Balances the society:

Education is regarded as the great equalizer because it reduces barriers and closes gaps between people from different origins. It allows people to break free from the cycle of poverty, prejudice, and social marginalization. Societies may empower marginalized people by:

• Encouraging social mobility. 

• Lessening inequality.

• Making education accessible to all.

Education becomes a force that promotes potential when it is inclusive and open to all. It opens doors to opportunities, knowledge, and talents that were previously out of reach. Societies that invest in education are investing in the potential of their people, unleashing their skills and allowing them to make significant contributions to their communities. As Horace Mann said:

“Education, then, beyond all other devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men, the balance wheel of the social machinery.”

• Promotes critical thinking:

Education develops critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving abilities as well as the acquisition of facts and numbers. People can actively participate in reshaping their societies when they possess the capacity to think independently, challenge accepted conventions, and analyze difficult situations. As Max Beerbohm once said:

 “The one real goal of education is to leave a person asking questions.”

Asking questions implies critical thinking ability. It empowers people to;

• Have intelligent discussions.

• Make moral decisions. 

• Fight for their rights and the rights of others. 

Active citizenship is the soul of an educated society, where people are motivated to take action, express their thoughts, and participate in societal decision-making.

• Fosters inclusivity:

The prejudice, discrimination, and stereotyping that afflict our cultures can be effectively combated by education. Education broadens students’ views and dispels preconceptions by exposing them to various perspectives, cultures, and experiences.

“Inclusive education seeks to address the learning needs of all children, with a specific focus on those who are vulnerable to marginalization and exclusion. The goal is to promote opportunities for all children to participate and be treated equally.”-Andie Fong

The goal of inclusive education is to give every student, regardless of their background or abilities, access to a setting that values diversity and fosters respect. It cultivates

• Empathy.

• Comprehension.

• Acceptance.

• Empower people to welcome diversity.

• Create inclusive societies.

Students who are exposed to many cultures, customs, and viewpoints are better able to confront prejudice and preconceptions, promoting a fair and peaceful society.

• Prepares future generations:

Future generations must be educated in order to be ready for the difficult problems they will encounter. Education provides students with the knowledge, abilities, and values required to confront concerns like inequality in society, climate change, and technological growth head-on. As Mitt Romney said:

“Education is the investment our generations make in the future.”

Education makes sure that children have a thorough grasp of how the world is interconnected by including sustainability, global citizenship, and digital literacy in curricula. It is the education that;

• Inspires inventive thinking. 

• Fosters a feeling of environmental responsibility.

• Gives people the means to use technology for the benefit of everyone. 

People who are adaptive, strong, and dedicated to having a beneficial impact on society are created through education.

• Promotes peace:

“Education breeds confidence, confidence breeds hope, hope breeds peace.”-Confucius

It is education that eliminates all the vices from society including robbery, rape, murder, or any sort of corruption. An educated individual won’t ever accept these vices and will always promote peace. This is why; one of the biggest factors that can contribute to bringing peace in society is considered to be education.

How to make education more accessible?

Millions of people around the world are still deprived of education because of poverty or any other reason. Even if the number of students attaining primary education has increased a bit, the ratio keeps reducing as we go towards higher educational levels including secondary education and tertiary education. Primary education forms the foundation of an individual but it is the higher education that provides expertise in the respective areas of study.

People are well-acknowledged with the integrality and importance of education but how to make it more accessible is the real question. Different means can be adapted for this purpose some of which are as follows:

• By providing more resources to public schools.

• By reducing tuition fees of educational institutes.

• By providing effective teacher training to teachers.

• By promoting awareness about education. 

• Promoting E-learning (It is a virtual learning (bestassignmentwriter, 2020).

Conclusion:

Education holds the key to unlocking human potential and altering societies as we work to create a better world. By putting money into education as a vehicle for social change, we enable people to have large aspirations, to think critically, and to take daring actions. Hopefully; the above-mentioned post will help the readers affiliate with the importance of education even more.

Bibliography

bestassignmentwriter. (2020, Oct 29th). The Age Of E-Learning. https://bestassignmentwriter.co.uk/blog/the-age-of-e-learning/ .

Dunne, J. (29th April, 2021). What’s The Good of Education? In J. Dunne, Philosophy of Education (pp. 145-160). Routledge.