ABSTRACT
Social mobility is basically the movement of individuals, or groups of individuals, from one social position to another; such a movement may be up or down between the classes in any social hierarchy or stratification, or it may occur within a particular social class. Social mobility may also occur through the sort of power which accrues to certain families, not merely via nepotism but because of the fact that they are in a favourable position for self-advancement. In consequence, the stability of social strata has diminished, and although the system of social stratification has become increasingly fine in its gradations, it is at the same time less rigid and extreme. The important question arises concerning the relatiotiship between education and social mobility. The size or proportion of the elite will vary according to the resources available; and means adopted for the selection of such an elite will vary according to political and social ideologies as well as educational principles.
