Formal Versus Informal Education

There is a long-lasting debate in some circles about the relative intrinsic worth of formal and informal education. This debate may impact our work in a literacy program. We have to differentiate between formal and informal-education and why it is necessary in this rapid world and especially countries like Pakistan.

Formal Education

The term formal education refers to the structured and prearranged educational system provided by the state for children of that country. In most countries, the formal education system is state-supported and state-operated. In some countries like Pakistan, the state allows and certifies private systems which provide a comparable even some time much better education.

Informal education

It is very simple to understand Informal Education as informal means unofficial and it is called informal education because;

    No regular curriculum
    Not obligatory
    No formal certification

The Government can or can not support the whole program as it is mostly refer to the social base programs. Mostly education/training or awareness for this purpose is organized outside of the formally school. Most typically, the term or phrase in-formal education is used to refer to adult literacy and continuing education for adults.