Non-formal education takes place outside the mandatory, formal and standardized educational system, happening in alternative spaces to schools and with proposals aimed at specific disciplines.
Non-formal education is a category that encompasses teaching and learning that occurs outside the formal academic system. It is not, therefore, training specific to the school environment but rather it complements the knowledge that is taught and acquired in the institutionalized and mandatory educational circuit.
It should be noted that non-formal education environments are key to revealing interests, talents and passions that transcend the mandatory subjects of a school. Learning crafts, dancing, singing, playing sports or playing chess are part of the endless list of options that bear the seal of non-formal education .
Thanks to the advancement of technology and the massive use of the Internet , non-formal education is currently gaining ground because it is not limited to the face-to-face format. From the comfort of their home, most people today can educate themselves through online tutorials , use e-learning platforms , read educational blogs , etc.
Characteristics of non-formal education
Non-formal education , as can be seen from reality, is characterized first of all by proposing learning spaces parallel to the conventional, obligatory, regulated and formal educational system.
Unlike formal education (which is legally structured and organized in levels to guarantee that from an early age there is inexcusable access to education respecting a curriculum in classes taught in kindergartens , schools and universities in both the public and private spheres. ), non-formal education lacks regulation or support through state provisions or laws.
Those who opt, intentionally and voluntarily, for this type of training , therefore, do not receive official titles upon completion of their classes. Generally, no prior knowledge or experience on the subject is required, although there may be exceptions.
The courses or programs classified in the non-formal education segment are usually conceived as opportunities for improvement and training that can, beyond satisfying personal interests, provide tools to discover or cultivate certain skills or train someone with a view to giving them a way out. labor.
Children, young people and adults can train informally through courses and workshops in painting, cooking, creative writing, etc.
Advantages and disadvantages
By making a comparison between the distinctive features of non-formal education and the particularities of formal education, advantages and disadvantages in both systems can be easily recognized.
The non-formal modality is estimated, for example, its flexibility and adaptation in terms of ages admitted to classes, the learning pace of each one and the time ranges available. The fact that it is not compulsory learning and that each course is specific to a topic or discipline also seduces those who choose to incorporate knowledge through non-formal means . Therefore, among its advantages are its optional essence, its design tailored to very specific interests , the freedom it offers and its accessible quality (promoting social inclusion ).
In any case, it is advisable to look for sites and people that inspire trust in relation to the content offered in order to minimize the risk of being victims of fraud or receiving confusing or incorrect advice . Not offering official certifications to students and not leaving the task of teaching in the hands of professionals exclusively (all those who have experience or notions about a discipline can teach in the non-formal circuit ) are part of the weaknesses of this system. In addition, consistency , commitment and responsibility are required at an individual level when choosing a workshop or course and enrolling in it because, as it is not mandatory attendance, more than one person diminishes the importance and value of the effort or time of others to teach or learn.
Non-formal education, through virtual content and distance courses, facilitates education at home.
Examples of non-formal education
As examples of non-formal education, we can mention self-taught learning processes, training workshops in numerous disciplines (many of them free) and online courses with an extracurricular profile.
It is interesting to note that non-formal education also usually inspires multiple seminars and is even deployed in informative talks .
We must not lose sight of the fact that non-formal education is available to all sectors of the population, without limits or conditions regarding age, nationality, economic situation, race or gender. You also do not have to prove having any formal study or previous experience to access it.
Adults, to describe a specific possibility, can be trained informally to learn a certain trade , just as children and adolescents can take advantage of their time by learning music, drawing, singing, painting, circus arts, acting, etc. only attend group workshops given at a cultural center. Cooking classes , photography courses and gardening learning , to indicate more options as a reference, are also part of the diverse and extensive set of non-formal education .