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Non-formal education is known as short-term or specific education that serves to satisfy the needs of individuals or communities.įormal education qualifies individuals with certificates, enabling them to obtain specific socio-economic positions in the wider society. Difference Between Formal and Informal Education Formal Educationįormal education serves as a long-term general education that provides the foundation for an individual's whole life. Tabulated below are the 5 differences between formal and informal education. Some people ordinarily master proficiency in various activities and undergo checks to evaluate themselves in the skills they acquired. Learning is the main goal for every step in formal education non-formal education strives for better understanding despite any guided set of assessments.
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Difference Between Formal and Non-formal Education Non-formal education develops a wide range of learning and productive skills with substantial gains. It also assists in the transfer of proper educational equipment to more need-based areas. It promotes the need for education to all, generating national income and more adaptable employment opportunities. It may cater to various learning programs like adult literacy, fundamental education for non- school-going children, life skills or culture, and diversity. Non-formal education may or may not be carried inside the educational institutions, and it has no age restrictions. It encompasses various learning methods through recreational tools to multiple sub-groups in the population. Non-formal education is a structured, organized educational activity that is carried outside the usual framework of schools. Difference Between Formal and Non-formal Educationįormal education is most prevalent in society, but there are alternatives to formal education.Non-formal education is achieved from the learner's intentional effort to master any activity beyond a set of rules described as informal education. It only focuses on learning outside the traditional school system. However, non-formal education comprises courses different from the institutions or by any scheme allotted by government funding. It explains the various educational activities conducted for better and reformed growth.
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are all organized keeping in mind the convenience of organizers as well as learnersĪssessment of Learning Objectives: Non-formal education system also makes use of formative as well as summative tools of evaluation to check the level of learning amongst students.Non-formal education is the education imparted outside the educational forum. It is flexible and learner-oriented.Īdministrative Mechanism: The lectures, classes, curriculum, mode of transmission, timing of classes etc. Teaching-Learning Process: In non-formal education system the teaching-learning process is not so formal. For example, family planning awareness programs will be more individualized as per the social environment of particular locality. Timing: Non-Formal Education Programs are run for a relatively shorter duration, but are repetitive in nature.Ĭurricular experiences: Curriculum for non-formal education system is more individualized and not so broad. Must also get an equal opportunity to continue their education. It might have an objective that those who can’t afford regular study as they have to work as well for their livelihood. Goals and Objectives: Non-Formal Education Programs have some specific objectives that it aims to attain. American Educationist, Ivan Illich pointed out that formal education system is redundant and is not able to meet the learning requirements of human beings.Ĭharacteristics of Non-formal Education System.Non-formal education was more suitable from the perspective of landmark report of the International Education Commission 1972, ‘learning to be’.Inability of formal education stem to cope up with socio-economic changes around them.Difficulty in paying for the expansion of formal education.Jobs could not be created directly as a result of educational inputs.Realization that educational growth and economic growth are not going on hand in hand.Unsuitable curricula of formal education.Reasons for the emergence of non-formal education can be summed up as follows: whether operating separately or as an important feature of some broader activity that is intended to serve identifiable learning clienteles and learning objectives. Non Formal Education: Any organized educational activity outside the established formal system. Non-formal education system has got many similarities as well as some differences from formal education system.
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