Unit 03: Vocabulary - Formal, Non-formal, and Informal Education

 Degree

Diploma

Certificate

To graduate

 Examples of degrees:

1.    Bachelor’s degree: BA

2.    Master’s degree: MA

3.    Doctorate degree: PhD

Formal education
Primary School	Secondary School
High School	University: Higher Education

 

 

Education can also be:

Informal education
Family	Society

 

Non-formal education

Literacy programme

 

 Education  

It is about teaching and learning skills and knowledge. Also, it means teaching people how to learn and how to do things.  Through education the knowledge, history, culture, values, beliefs, and practices of a country / society are passed on from generation to generation. 

 

There are three forms of education:

Formal Education is usually in school, where a person may learn basic, academic, or trade skills.  It begins with elementary / primary, through middle / secondary school and continues with higher education at university.  Supported by the government, this form of education is obligatory / mandatory and should often lead to a degree.

Non-formal Education it refers to a learning through programmes (like formal education) but it is not usually evaluated and it often does not lead to a degree. An example of this is adult literacy courses.

Informal Education is often unintentional and happens outside of the school and class settings, in the context of daily life and work. It is all about things that we learn from our daily experiences and social activities.  Examples of this type may include reading at home, cooking a meal, chatting on Facebook…. It is a life-long process or activity.