An individual can learn very little by himself. Others play a very important role and contribute a lot to his learning process. The presence of other persons is important because a person learns from the knowledge gained by others. Therefore the process of getting education is always a social process.

The word Sociology is derived from the combination of the Latin word ‘socius’ – meaning ‘companion’ and the Greek word ‘logos – meaning ‘the study of’. So the word literally means the study of companionship, or social relations.

Sociology is the science or study of the origin, development, organization, and functioning of human society. It is the science of fundamental laws of social behaviour, relations, institutions, etc.

The word Education comes from the Latin ‘educere’ meaning ‘to lead out.’ Webster defines education as ‘the process of educating or teaching.’ Educate is further defined as ‘to develop the knowledge, skill, or character of…’ Thus, from these definitions, one can assume that the purpose of education is to develop the knowledge, skill, or character of students.

Relationship between Education and Sociology

Emile Durkheim was the first person who indicated the need for a sociological approach to education. He considered education “to be essentially social in character and in its functions and that as a result the theory of education relates more clearly to sociology than any other science.” He emphasized that education is not a static phenomenon, but a dynamic and ever-changing process.

Educational sociology is a discipline which studies education sociologically, with the premise that it recognizes education as a social fact, a process and an institution, having a social function and being determined socially. Educational sociology could appear only when it accepted the social nature of education.