Education that is institutionalized, intentional and planned by an education provider. The defining characteristic of non-formal education is that it is an addition, alternative and/or a complement to formal education within the process of the lifelong learning of individuals. It is often provided to guarantee the right of access to education for all. It caters for people of all ages, but does not necessarily apply a continuous pathway-structure; it may be short in duration and/or low intensity, and it is typically provided in the form of short courses, workshops or seminars. Non-formal education mostly leads to qualifications that are not recognized as formal qualifications by the relevant national educational authorities or to no qualifications at all. Non-formal education can cover programmes contributing to adult and youth literacy and education for out-of-school children, as well as programmes on life skills, work skills, and social or cultural development.

These can be various fitness programs, boy-scouts, software learning etc.

PROS

• Flexible courses as per the capabilities of the individuals are offered.
• No schedule is to be followed, and exams are not a necessity.
• Helps in developing specialised skills in an individual.
• Diploma, degree, awards etc. are not a necessity.

CONS

• Primary formal education is necessary for indulging in such courses.
• Lack of seriousness as the individual has more independence.
• Lack in regularity and schedule.
• No exams and certifications can undermine its credibility.
• Many such courses may not be that useful in the long run.
• This article is contributed by Ecole Globale International School.

Types of NON-FORMAL education:

Non-formal education refers to education that occurs outside the formal school system. Non-formal education is often used interchangeably with terms such as community education, adult education, lifelong education and second-chance education.

Non-Formal  education:

Education that is institutionalized, intentional and planned by an education provider. ... Non-formal education mostly leads to qualifications that are not recognized as formal qualifications by the relevant national educational authorities or to no qualifications at all.

Role of Non –Formal Education:

The non- formal education is like a formal institution in shape but the spirit is individual – centric and learner- centric. It gives first priority to the choice , needs and problems of the learner and provides good and systematic education to a larger groups through various modes. There are many agencies of education among which non – formal is also one of them. Agencies of education is the gateway through which the objective of education is realized. Among other agencies of education, non-formal agencies are called the agencies of mass education.

Formal education has little scope for mass education. Informal education is aimless and ambiguous. But non-formal is the real hope to  minimize the gap between both the formal and informal and make balance between both. So , in order to give and provide liberal , flexible , standard , cheap and qualitative education as per the need of the individual , society and the country , non-formal education is the best way.

There are certain characteristics of non- formal education. It is purposefully and systematically created and has a clear cut goal to provide education to the mass, it is very flexible and liberal type of education taking the numerous differences of individual into account, etc.

Now we are in a stage of information explosion. Everyone wants to get an education and to educate the society. So school cannot provide opportunity for all in different education. It is also a difficult task for the government to accommodate all in the formal classroom. Therefore non- formal education is an innovative idea to provide need based various types of education through suitable and easy means. It takes the support of mass media for the education of mass. Universalism  of education and the mission of the country i.e. 100% literacy can be possible through non-formal education. It helps 6 -14 age groups dropouts to continue their education and to eradicate illiteracy.

It is to take on a leisure time activity for the education to make their education a lifelong affair. So the non-formal education can educate all by imparting knowledge , development skills and promoting social values among them. It is the evolution of education in a new form in the society. In educational literature , the study of alternative education systems often mentions ‘’open system’’, ‘’non-formal education’’, ‘’distance learning’’. ‘’non conventional studies’’, among other terms. In some cases these are employed as synonyms, whereas there is no other, there is no agreement as to their meanings, making it impossible to reach a consensus for their concepts. A more precise definition of such concepts is fundamental, as is their possible classification, aimed at better understanding and practical utilization. We shall therefore analyse the concept of formal, non-formal and informal education, in an attempt to define their features , advantages , limitations and inter – relations.

Regards,

Caitlin Tera,

Managing editor,

International Journal of Adult and Non Formal Education

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