What is education?

Education is the development of knowledge, skills, values and attitudes through experience, teaching and social interaction; it is not confined to years spent at school.

Purposes and forms of education

Education supports literacy and numeracy, critical reasoning, and the ability to live and work with others. Formal education follows planned programmes in schools and universities; non-formal education includes courses and workshops, while informal learning occurs in families, workplaces and everyday life. Goals vary with age, setting and need. A child developing language through play, an adult learning a new method at work and a citizen learning to find reliable information all fit this broad picture. Education aims not merely to transmit facts but to create opportunities to question knowledge and apply it to unfamiliar situations.

How is quality education assessed?

Access alone is insufficient: learners need to participate in a safe environment, reach appropriate materials and supportive teachers, and demonstrate what they have learned. Content, teaching and assessment should align, while barriers related to language, disability, income and location must be addressed. Exam scores alone may obscure social and emotional development and the durability of learning. Teachers use feedback, and families and communities support the process. UNESCO treats education as a right throughout life, so a good system also offers routes back into learning at different ages.