Abstract

Education is seen as the process by which people are prepared to live effectively and efficiently in their environment. Thus education is now recognized as an instrument for social stability as well for social change. Many countries have learnt how to respond positively to any arising social challenges of their respective countries through education. This paper examines some social challenges with particular reference to Nigeria; among which are; economic mismanagement, lack of good governance, weak fiscal discipline, corruption and injustice. It further examines educational learning as a process of association and imitation and how it helps in regulating the identified social challenges. Education therefore provides these prominent role under the following headings; Education as a cultural change, education for social integration, education for rural integration, education for economic efficiency, education for a social philosophy, education for self government, education for political efficiency, education for creation of modern men, education for the development of individual excellence and lastly education for the development of manpower resources. The paper concludes that education is an instrument for civic responsibility and social reconstruction rather than a mere process of acquiring a body of academic knowledge, and as a means of economic development