Educational support material - Nonformal educational activities HRYO EN | Page 5
Informal education
Informal education refers to a lifelong learning process, whereby
each individual acquires attitudes, values, skills and knowledge
from the educational influences and resources in his or her own
environment and from daily experience. People learn from family
and neighbours, in the market place, at the library, at art exhibi-
tions, at work and through playing, reading and sports activities.
The mass media are a very important medium for informal edu-
cation, for instance through plays and film, music and songs, te-
levised debates and documentaries. Learning in this way is often
unplanned and unstructured.
Formal education
Formal education refers to the structured education system that
runs from primary (and in some countries from nursery) school
to university, and includes specialized programmes for vocatio-
nal, technical and professional training. Formal education often
comprises an assessment of the learners’ acquired learning or
competences and is based on a programme or curriculum which
can be more or less closed to adaptation to individual needs and
preferences. Formal education usually leads to recognition and
certification.
Non-formal education
Non-formal education refers to planned, structured programmes
and processes of personal and social education for young people
designed to improve a range of skills and competences, outsi-
de the formal educational curriculum. Non-formal education is
what happens in places such as youth organisations, sports clubs
and drama and community groups where young people meet, for
example, to undertake projects together, play games, discuss,
go camping, or make music and drama. Non-formal education
achievements are usually difficult to certify, even if their social
recognition is increasing.
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