The world we are living in now is civilized and advanced in terms of development and growth. The different fields of knowledge and understanding that education brings to the people are enough reasons for the technological advancement, innovation and magnificent growth of the whole universe. Hence, it is crucial that the meaning and structure of education is put out more comprehensively to you.
Meaning and Structure of Education
When we look at the meaning and structure of education, you will have to first understand that the focus of this discourse is on formal education and the many innovative impacts it has made on the world. Let us look at the original understanding of education. Etymologically, the word “education” is derived from the Latin word ēducātiō (“A breeding, a bringing up, a rearing”) from ēducō (“I educate, I train”) which is related to the homonym ēdūcō (“I lead forth, I take out; I raise up, I erect”) from ē- (“from, out of”) and dūcō (“I lead, I conduct”).
Education, as you see it, is the scientific inculcation of knowledge and the structural way of engendering certain behavior formatively into humans. It is also a purposeful activity directed at achieving certain aims, such as transmitting knowledge or fostering skills and character traits. These aims may include the development of understanding, rationality, kindness, and honesty.
Types of education are commonly divided into formal, non-formal, and informal education. Formal education takes place in education and training institutions, is usually structured by curricular aims and objectives, and learning is typically guided by a teacher. In most regions, formal education is compulsory up to a certain age and commonly divided into educational stages such as kindergarten, primary school and secondary school. Non-formal education occurs as addition or alternative to formal education. Formal education plays a central role in modern civilization.
Advantages of Education
Education has some benefits that it is capable of giving us human beings and as a society. Here are some of the education advantages:
- Poverty Reduction.
- Connecting Across Borders.
- Creating More Employment Opportunities
- Securing a Higher Income
- Developing Problem-solving Skills
- Improving the Economy
- Sense of Accomplishment.
- More Productivity.
- Better Communication.
- Critical Thinking Skills.
- Identification of Skills.
- Greater Sense of Discipline.
Structure of Education
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Pre-Primary Education
This is ISCED level 02. Education designed to support early development in preparation for participation in school and society. Kindergarten “provides a child-centered, preschool curriculum for three- to seven-year-old children that aim[s] at unfolding the child’s physical, intellectual, and moral nature with balanced emphasis on each of them.” The programmes are designed for children below the age of three. Preschools provide education from ages approximately three to seven, depending on the country when children enter primary education. The children now readily interact with their peers and the educator. One year of pre-primary education is compulsory as was stated in the enrollment section of this site.
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Primary
Primary education consists of the first four to seven years of formal, structured education. In general, primary education consists of six to eight years of schooling starting at the age of five to seven, although this varies between, and sometimes within, countries. Primary education is mandatory and free; it usually starts at age 6 until age 10. This is ISCED level 1. Primary schools are often subdivided into infant schools and junior schools. The division between primary and secondary education is quite arbitrary, but it generally occurs at about eleven or twelve years of age. Some education systems have separate middle schools, with the transition to the final stage of secondary education taking place at around the age of fifteen.
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Junior Secondary
Basic secondary education is also mandatory and free from age 11-13. Secondary education has a longer history in Europe, where grammar schools or academies date from as early as the 6th century, in the form of public schools, fee-paying schools, or charitable educational foundations, which themselves date even further back.
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Senior or Upper Secondary
Mid secondary education refers to vocational schools of technology and arts, academic schools and also special labor schools. Students may choose their profession as early as 9th grade to begin studying at normal schools to become teachers or, as is more common in rural areas, they may join the special labor track. Traditional academic school, however, represents most of what is offered in urban areas.
Through examining the map it is evident that there aren’t many true ‘dead-ends.’ Even if a student chooses to enter special labor school after mid-secondary school, they still have the option of studying at a technical university and doing a specialization after that. There is however, no way for that student to return into the academic setting.
