The Department of Education is a Cabinet-level agency that is responsible for funding educational programs. Its programs impact every level of education from early childhood to higher education. The Department’s mission is to ensure equal opportunity and achievement for all students. The Department serves nearly 18,200 school districts and more than 50 million students. Its funding sources include federal, state, and local funds.
In addition to articles pertaining to teaching and learning, the Encyclopedia of Education contains indexes. This journal is devoted to critical state-of-the-art essays on various topics related to education. Each issue contains about 4-5 articles that focus on different educational issues. Some are original research, while others are critical analyses of current research literature.
Post-secondary education is more formal. It involves rigorous, organized curriculum, professional teachers, and subject-oriented syllabus. The goal of formal education is to provide a formally recognized certificate at the end of the process. However, some individuals learn better informally than through a traditional formal education system. While it is important to follow a rigorous curriculum, informal education can be time and cost-effective.
Education is essential for the development of a person’s personality. It helps people learn to think critically and take responsibility for their own actions. Education aims to develop all aspects of a person’s potential, including memory, reasoning, aesthetic sense, spiritual values, and physical abilities. It also encourages a healthy lifestyle, promotes respect for local culture, and develops resilience.
Non-formal education is similar to formal education, but does not follow a specific curriculum or timetable. It may be part-time or full-time. Non-formal education often involves learning professional skills and self-learning. It can also be conducted in public or private organizations. It may also involve informal education, such as learning from elders.
Education is the wise cultivation of knowledge and change, based on the principle that we should all share life and knowledge. Mark K Smith explores the meaning of education and the role of education, suggesting that education is a process of listening to and being with others, and inviting truth and possibility. It is about promoting respectful learning in a global community.
Education should also promote tolerance and non-discrimination. Human rights instruments state that everyone should have access to the same quality of education. To ensure equality, it is necessary to eliminate discrimination and stereotypes. People with disabilities or learning disabilities, for example, may need extra help to succeed. Members of ethnic minorities who face linguistic barriers may also need extra support.
People with lower levels of education are more likely to be incarcerated, which poses significant public health risks. Additionally, public schools that are underfunded may be unable to provide attractive salaries to teachers and maintain necessary supplies and buildings. As a result, people with lower levels of education have less opportunities for employment, which may further compound their economic and physical hardships. Further, fewer opportunities mean less political influence, which perpetuates a cycle of disadvantage.