Formal Education

Formal education as it is delivered in educational institutions following to a particular pattern. In the school, the educator educates the educand according to a specific program aiming at a specific goal mouth. He tracks a pre-determined syllabus. In formal education, the time and place of teaching are fixed. In addition, the educand has to arrive at that place at a specific time to receive an education. The duration of education is also fixed in terms of years.

The advantages of formal education lie in that it can be systematically and scientifically provided as well as determined beforehand. Although education is in one form that continues as long as a person lives. Additionally, formal education commonly starts at the age of four or five and continues till the age of twenty-five and more. During this period the individual passes through a series of institutions of primary, secondary, and advanced education in the form of schools, colleges, and universities. At all these places of learning he receives formal education, provided on a pattern determined by a syllabus which is itself framed to achieve certain targets.

However, the fact is that formal education can be provided to a large number of people is an advantage but also has some disadvantages. Because this type of education is completely formal. Additionally, formal education fails to fill up certain aspects of one’s personality and leaves it completely undeveloped his or her personality. Gradually, it can also become so detached from reality that it hampers rather than helps the students in satisfying his/her demands.

Finally, it would not be inaccurate to state that, the more formal education a person receives after a certain stage, the more useless he becomes in facing the problems of real life. His adjustment deteriorates instead of improving.

References: Sociology of Education by S.S. Chandra & R. K. Sharma