Difference Between Formal and Informal Education
Education is the process by which acquiring knowledge, skills, values, attitudes, beliefs, morals, and behaviors is facilitated through interaction and teaching. Educational systems may be school systems, colleges, universities or any other system that facilitates learning. Educational systems incorporate training, teaching, interactive study and guided research. The process of education may also include childhood conditioning, experience, development, and the influences of culture.
Nonformal education is a kind of education that does not require instructors, textbooks, or instructors for students. Nonformal education is carried out through oral communication, group activities and family activities. It is usually a part of informal education system that is initiated at home and then taken up in school or college. Some other forms of informal education are arts, sport, business, GED programs, and foreign languages.
Informal education is considered as one of the forms of education that aims to build new skills and understand new things. It includes informal teaching and learning, leadership, problem solving, group work and development, and cooperative learning. There is a division between formal education and informal education. Formal education on the one hand, is structured to deliver knowledge and skills through classroom teaching; on the other hand, informal education on the other hand, involves direct interaction of individuals who have acquired the knowledge or skills by their own free will.
Formal education refers to the educational system that makes use of textbooks, classroom teaching and tests. On the other hand, informal education involves direct personal learning by people who have acquired the knowledge and skills by their own free will. Formal education is structured and prescribed by state governments. Informal education varies on the basis of the culture and tradition of the people.
In formal school education, there are definite routines and set of rules and regulations that are followed by each and every student. These rules provide clear direction to every student. Moreover, the government ensures to approve these rules by putting in the teachers’ council and other governing boards. The school education system includes learning experiences such as teacher-led classroom teaching, group study, personal teaching and counseling. Also included in the curriculum are health, social studies, physical education, foreign languages, humanities, natural science, history, and literature.
Informal education is being used in almost all countries of the world. This is because of its holistic approach that involves the whole person to enhance his overall development. Formal education systems on the other hand, make use of textbook learning and group studies for reaching the overall education goal of the society. It also lays stress on individual growth within the group as well as individual productivity and contributions towards the society.