The Importance Of Informal and Formal Learning

Apart from our health and happiness, education is probably the most important part of our well-being.This means that we should all be entitled to an education and that it is a human right, not just an entitlement for the privileged. Not only is education beneficial to our own selves, but to our communities and to the world too.While our introduction to education is received at home in our family environment (Informal Education) we should all have the opportunity to further our education in schooling environments (Formal Education).

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However, while a formal education is very important, the informal education we acquire from relatives and our home environments is just as necessary and is and educational process that lasts a lifetime. It could almost be said that without this informal education, we would not have the correct foundation set for more formal learning. This is because this form of teaching has more to do with one’s self-fulfillmentthan the actual acquiring of knowledge. A child who is raised with values and who is encouraged to be confident and have a good self-esteem, is more likely to do well in formal learning environments.

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You could also say that informal learning follows a child into his or her formal learning environment, that is, while at school, teachers take on the role of parents and help to instill values, a sense of responsibility and a feeling of self-confidence. Again, as human’s, we should all be receiving an education from teachers who have such qualities and ideals in mind and who are not only doing the job because they are paid to do it. Improving the quality of our education is very important, but so is improving the quality of teachers that are taking on the role of educators.

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In addition, the role of the community environment is also important for all learners/students. This type of education can also be categorized as Non-Formal Education. Non-formal education is an education that takes place out of the school or formal learning environment. This form of education is also crucial, because the communities are the entities who determine what kind of knowledge should be gained, and how it should be used.

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As humans, we are expected to meet certain requirements, or to adhere to certain rules, so that we can live in harmony with our fellow beings. So, while the government owes us a formal education, our families and our community owes us an informal education too, so that we do in fact grow to be responsible, confident and well-rounded adults.