Formal and Informal Education
We all understand how significant is education for any human being. Undoubtedly, it is the education that differentiates any human being from an animal. When we talk of education, it can be broadly of two types – formal education and informal education.
Let’s now talk about formal education. Formal education is that kind of education which is delivered in a structured environment. It has a well laid down system. Formal education ranges from nursery education to higher education. The pre-nursery or the so-called playschools are also being included under formal education now-a-days. One more thing which forms a compulsory part of formal education is the navigation or graduation to the next level wherein the previously completed level is recognized in terms of evaluation followed by the award of some certification of completion for that level. This is followed by admission to the next level. Things are so structured in the current form of formal education that every next level leads the student or learner to a higher level. Formal education can thus be inferred as vertically drawn from bottom to top. After a specific top-level there does not seem to have any more next level. In the same way, there does not seem to have any level below a starting point of formal education.
Let’s now talk about informal education. Any education beyond or outside the purview of formal education can be included in the definition of informal education. Informal education comes to a student or learner from the surrounding environment. He learns from peer groups, friends, siblings, parents, relatives, nature, etc. The informal system develops the learner’s beliefs, attitude, way of life, emotions, etc. It is education that does not have any well-defined system. Unlike formal education, informal education does not have different levels of graduation; neither does it have a system of recognition in terms of certification. There is as such no admission process to the next level.
If we compare formal education with informal education, we find that there is as such no starting level or ending level in informal education as there is in the case of formal education. In fact, the informal education of the learner starts before he or she has taken birth. Yes, in the mother’s womb itself. And as is said, informal education does not have an ending point. It is actually a lifelong learning process. It comes both vertically and horizontally, in fact, from all directions. Informal education never ends. In terms of scope, formal education may have limitations while informal education may be said to have unlimited scope. Philosophically, formal education is the body of a human being while informal education is the soul of the human being. Informal education plays a significant role in human beings. It is an integral part of the human being. One more very peculiar thing about informal education is that it can be inherited to a greater extent while formal education cannot be inherited; neither can it be passed on to the next generation.
Dr. Jagat Narayan Giri
Professor
School of Business
Sushant University
Haryana
