Meaning of education (what is it, concept and definition)

What is Education:

In its broadest sense, education is understood as the process by which the knowledge, habits, customs and values ​​of a society are transmitted to the next generation.

Education comes from the Latin educere which means 'to extract', 'to extract', and educare which means 'to form', 'to instruct'.

Education also includes the assimilation and practice of the norms of courtesy, delicacy and civility. Hence, in popular language the practice of these socialization habits are described as signs of a good education.

In the technical sense, education is the systematic process of development of the physical, intellectual and moral faculties of the human being, in order to better integrate in society or in his own group. That is, it is a learning to live.

Types of education

Education is a universal and complex phenomenon of social life, indispensable for the continuity of cultures. Encompasses diversity of experiences and modalities, which can be summarized in three types elementary: the informal education the, non - formal education and formal education.

These three types are the broadest, since within them the entire universe of educational models occurs, be it by sector, modality, area of ​​knowledge, etc.

Informal education

It is one that is received through agents of daily life. For example, education that is taught in the family or in the community, which involves the transmission of socialization habits, norms, values, traditions, hygiene, etc.

Informal education

For non - formal education all understood those initiatives systematic education that are not conducive to title, but allow the training of people in different occupations or areas of knowledge.

It may encompass the set of alternative arts and crafts academies intended for mere enjoyment, personal improvement, or job training. For example, training in trades such as automotive mechanics, electricity, carpentry or masonry; artisan and artistic training, etc.

Formal education

Formal education refers to the systematic and programmatic training that is given in public or private institutes and educational centers to children, youth and / or adults, with a view to developing skills (intellectual, physical, artistic, motor, etc.) and attitudes (responsibility, leadership, camaraderie, prosociality, etc.) necessary for social development.

For its strategic role in society, formal education is conducive to title. This means that it culminates in the issuance of a certificate or diploma endorsed by the competent authorities, duly recognized by the State.

Types of formal education

Formal education covers a wide universe of interests and objectives according to the age group of the population, as well as the development needs present in the socio-political context. It can be classified in various ways. Let's get to know the most important ones.

Types of formal education according to the level or degree of instruction

According to the age level and the objective of teaching, formal education is classified as:

Preschool education

Preschool education is one that is taught in the early years of childhood, approximately between 0 to 6 years. Corresponds to step commonly known as kindergarten or kindergarten .

During this stage, children receive support for the development of sociability, motor skills and coordination. For example: following instructions through the game, outlining, coloring, modeling with modeling clay, cutting, etc.

Primary education

Primary education is oriented to the teaching of reading and writing, that is, to the literacy process of individuals, as well as the acquisition of tools for learning and training in values. Primary education is usually aimed at children between 7 and 12 years of age approximately. It corresponds to the so-called basic education.

Secondary education

Secondary education is aimed at obtaining basic knowledge of culture in the humanities (language, arts, history), science (mathematics, physics, chemistry) and technology, as well as the consolidation of citizenship and the development of responsibility.

During this stage, normally aimed at young people between 12 and 18 years of age (depending on the country), the recipients must reinforce their study and work habits based on their future insertion in society.

Higher education

Higher education is that which is taught in universities or specialized institutions with professional recognition (for example, music conservatories). It has two basic fundamental purposes:

1. train subjects for the exercise of a certain profession in a specialized field of work; train intellectuals who are responsible for investigating, ordering, systematizing, analyzing and disseminating valuable information for the development of society in all areas of knowledge. This is called a research paper.

Higher education is subdivided into different levels:

• Undergraduate or bachelor's degree: it trains students for professional work in a labor area, that is, it professionalizes them. Specialization: provides professionals with spaces for specialization in one aspect of the discipline. Master's degree: allows the professional to consolidate his knowledge on the area of ​​specialization through research. Doctorate: its purpose is to deepen the competencies for research and favor the formulation of original knowledge.

Continuing education

Also known as extension education, continuing education, or lifelong education, continuing education has recently come into effect and is one of the forms of formal education.

Continuing education is a policy that aims to offer free courses for the training of anyone who has attained a secondary or higher education degree, according to their personal or work interests.

It is considered formal insofar as it is offered by universities or, failing that, by institutions endorsed by universities through cooperation agreements.

Continuing education encompasses courses with various methods (theoretical or practical) and modalities (face-to-face, blended or distance-online).

After the approval of each course, the participating entities offer a certificate endorsed by a university as a guarantee of academic excellence. However, being open to the public, these certificates are not conducive to title, that is, they are not creditable for validations or revalidations.

Those that are usually conducive to a degree are the so-called extension courses, aimed strictly at graduate professionals. These lead to a professional diploma.

Special education

Within formal education there is a variety known as special education or differential education. It is aimed at developing the social, intellectual, physical and psychological potential of subjects with special needs. Special or differential education programs focus on groups with the following conditions:

• Subjects with physical exceptionalities:
  • sensory disability: visual or hearing; motor disability; chronic diseases.
  Subjects with intellectual exceptionalities:
  • intellectual deficiencies, gifted, personality disorders.
  Subjects with social exceptionalities:
  • Abused minors; Drug-dependent minors; Minors at social risk.

Types of education according to sector

According to the sector that administers it, education can be public or private. In either of these two cases, education must correspond to the project of society protected in the legal framework of the State as guarantor of the quality and social convenience of the educational project.

Public education

The public education is that given by state institutions and usually has a formal character. Because it is in the public interest, the educational service provided by the State is not for profit, but its purpose is strategic.

Regarding primary and secondary education, the State must provide free and compulsory public education. Regarding university education, depending on the country, the State can offer free universities or, failing that, universities that require significantly less investment than private ones, in order to favor the training and promotion of the popular sectors to the professional field.

Private education

The private education is that given in private institutions. It can cover both initiatives in non-formal and formal education, as well as different levels of the latter (basic, intermediate or higher education). These institutions are for profit.

Types of education according to modality

By modality is understood the way in which education is delivered, whether it is formal or non-formal education. It is summarized in three essential types:

• Classroom education: one that is taught in a physical classroom in real time. Distance education or online education: formerly referred to that which was done through a postal mail tutoring system. Today it refers to the education that is practiced in virtual learning environments. Blended education: one that combines face-to-face education and distance education.

Types of education according to the area of ​​knowledge

Education can also be classified according to the area of ​​knowledge to which it refers, whether it is incorporated into formal education or not. The list can be as extensive as areas of interest exist. We will point out the following cases:

• Physical education: is one that stimulates the development of body conditions (endurance, flexibility, aerobic capacity, anaerobic capacity, speed, muscle strength) through systematic physical exercise. For example: exercise routine (stretching, warming up, sit-ups, planks, etc.) or team sports (volleyball, soccer, etc.). Artistic education: is one oriented towards artistic appreciation or the development of artistic skills. For example: music, fine arts, photography, acting, etc. Religious education: aimed at training and integrating subjects into the universe of beliefs, values ​​and norms of a given religion. For example: the catechesis in the Catholic Church. Citizen education: it is aimed at training subjects in the knowledge of their rights and duties in the context of a certain society. For example: citizenship courses for foreigners. Education for work: it is that destined to the training of the subjects in a certain trade. For example: carpentry, mechanics, masonry, kitchen, secretarial and typing, etc. Environmental education: provides training in caring for the environment and encourages the development of models of prevention and protection of the natural heritage. For example: courses for recycling and reuse of solid waste.

See also:

• Physical education Environmental education

Obligatory education

The term compulsory education results from the recognition of the universal right to primary and secondary education, a right that the State is obliged to guarantee. Therefore, there is talk of public education, free and compulsory.

In this sense, the State is responsible for creating and maintaining public schools for primary and secondary education, so that economic conditions do not deprive the right to formal education, since the integration of individuals in society and the public depends on it. working market.

The principle of compulsory education also imposes responsibility on parents and representatives as active agents in defending the right to education of minors in their care.

Those representatives who, having the means and conditions, prevent the formal education of children and young people, are subject to legal claims.

See also:

• Educational system Pedagogy

Emotional education

Today you often hear about emotional education. It is a new educational approach that accompanies subjects in managing their emotional skills in order to facilitate the balanced development of their person in coherence with their own concerns. The subject of emotional education is thus the so-called emotional intelligence.

It allows the channeling of the processes of fear, anger, anger, frustration, as well as the strengthening of positive emotions, in search of the well-being of the subject with himself and in relation to his environment.