The role of education as an agent or instrument of social change and social development is widely recognized today.

Social change may take place (i) When human need change, (ii) When the existing social system or network of social institutions fail to fulfill the existing human needs and (iii) When new materials suggest better ways of meeting human needs. Social change do not take place automatically or by themselves.

As Mac Iver says, social change take place as a response to many type of change that take place the social and non-social environment.

Education can initiate social changes by bring about a change in the outlook and attitude of man. It can bring about a change in the pattern of social relationships and thereby it may cause social changes.

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There was a time when educational institution and teachers were engaged in transmitting a way of life to the student. During those days, education, was more a means of social control than an instrument, of social change.

Modern schools, and universities do not take place much emphasis upon transmitting a way of life to the students. The traditional education why heart for an unchanging, state society. Not marked, by rapid changes. But today education aims at imparting empirical knowledge.

Education when associated with religion however, become secular today. It is an instrumental in preparing the way for the development of science and technology.

Education has brought about phenomenal changes in every aspect of man’s life. It is a process which enables every individual to effectively participate in the activities of society and to make positive contribution to the process is of society.