September 28, 2023

Education: what it is, types, characteristics and importance

We explain what education is and what its main characteristics are. In addition, the types of education, their importance and more. The word education comes homeschooling from Latin and means to raise or nurture.

Education is the discipline that deals with the various methods of teaching and learning in different educational institutions and social groups, with the aim of transmitting knowledge, values, skills, beliefs and habits.

It consists of a process that provides the individual with the acquisition of knowledge, experiences and skills with the aim of training him to lead a full life and fulfill his desires to the greatest extent possible.

Knowledge is extracted from books, media, documents, among other sources, and requires a teacher or educator to transmit the information, explain it and develop it to then be able to evaluate the student’s level of learning. Home, social groups, and other bonds are also learning environments for the individual.

The word education comes from ēducātiōlo which in Latin means to raise or nurture. It has its origin in educare that refers to promoting the intellectual and cultural development of the student.

See also: Distance educationCharacteristics of education

Education is characterized by being:A right of every person.A social process, that is, outside the social sphere no one can acquire education.A system of socialization that allows incorporating the customs of a culture.A process of continuous instruction.A system of learning through observation, critical thinking and drawing conclusions on their own.A discipline that transmits the values and accumulated knowledge of a society.A guide in the learning process that stimulates the development of skills and affects a student’s behavior.Formal, informal, face-to-face or remote, among other modes.Trainer of the student’s attitude.An instrument of subsistence of the human being, from the social, emotional and labor aspect.A way to promote participatory democracy.Types of educationTo access higher education it is necessary to have passed the secondary level.

The types of education can be: formal, in officially recognized institutions; non-formal, in academies or institutions authorized but without official recognition; or informal, which occur in certain social groups, such as in the family, in amateur groups, among others.

Among the main types of formal education are:Early childhood education. It consists of the initial education of children, which is provided from the home, the family and from institutions, such as kindergartens and kindergartens.Primary education. It consists of basic education for life in society, in which you learn to speak correctly, write, perform mathematical calculations and acquire knowledge of general culture.Secondary education. It consists of secondary education that offers more complex knowledge that allows access to higher education or, in case of not continuing with studies, offers basic knowledge to access the workplace.Undergraduate or higher education. It consists of tertiary, higher or university education of specialized vocational training in a particular discipline.Graduate education. It consists of higher education with a degree called master, master’s, master’s or postgraduate degree of greater specialization than higher education. The total time of the course is usually short, between one or two years compared to a degree that usually extends for four or six years.

The types of formal education are divided according to the age of the child or adult and according to the ability to understand. Each stage requires having completed the previous level, for example, to access higher education it is necessary to have the complete secondary level. It is a way to ensure that the student has a learning that will allow him to understand the new knowledge, which is more complex or specialized. Through education the individual develops his ability to devise and reason.

Education allows the individual to acquire greater knowledge about his culture than he could obtain if he only devoted himself to observation and imitation. Even through education the individual can learn about other cultures and develop their ability to devise and reason.

It is necessary for society to operate in an environment of freedom of expression so that education can foster the maximum potential of an individual and not censor their abilities and abilities. Otherwise, it will only be possible to educate from censorship and repression. References:”Education” in Britannica.”What are the principles of education?” on Quora.”Education transforms lives” at UNESCO.