Basic education
Encyclopedia
Basic education refers to the whole range of educational activities taking place in various settings (formal, non formal and informal), that aim to meet basic learning needs. According to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED
), basic education comprises primary education (first stage of basic education) and lower secondary education (second stage). In countries (developing countries in particular), Basic Education often includes also pre-primary education and/or adult literacy programs.
Universal basic education is regarded as a priority for developing countries and is the focus of the Education For All
movement led by UNESCO. It is also included in the Millennium Development Goals as Goal number 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education by 2015.
An extensive number of studies have proven its benefits on public health (lower spread of HIV/AIDS, better vaccination, prevention and medication of disease, better nutrition, lower maternal, infant and child mortality,...), demography (longer life expectancy, accelerated demographic transition
through better birth control,...) and economy (increase of purchase power, increased productivity in traditional sectors, increased demand on service sectors,...). Other benefits, although more difficult to measure, include impact on democracy, human rights, governance and political stability through increasing understanding of non-violent ways to solve problems and mutual understanding between groups in conflict.
The Convention on the Rights of the Children (CRC
), established by UNICEF in 1989, protects children's inalienable rights by setting standards for multiple aspects, one of which is education.
ISCED
The International Standard Classification of Education is classification structure for organizing information on education and training maintained by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization...
), basic education comprises primary education (first stage of basic education) and lower secondary education (second stage). In countries (developing countries in particular), Basic Education often includes also pre-primary education and/or adult literacy programs.
Universal basic education is regarded as a priority for developing countries and is the focus of the Education For All
Education For All
Education For All is a global movement led by UNESCO, aiming to meet the learning needs of all children, youth and adults by 2015. UNESCO has been mandated to lead the movement and coordinate the international efforts to reach Education for All...
movement led by UNESCO. It is also included in the Millennium Development Goals as Goal number 2: Achieve Universal Primary Education by 2015.
An extensive number of studies have proven its benefits on public health (lower spread of HIV/AIDS, better vaccination, prevention and medication of disease, better nutrition, lower maternal, infant and child mortality,...), demography (longer life expectancy, accelerated demographic transition
Demographic transition
The demographic transition model is the transition from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as a country develops from a pre-industrial to an industrialized economic system. The theory is based on an interpretation of demographic history developed in 1929 by the American...
through better birth control,...) and economy (increase of purchase power, increased productivity in traditional sectors, increased demand on service sectors,...). Other benefits, although more difficult to measure, include impact on democracy, human rights, governance and political stability through increasing understanding of non-violent ways to solve problems and mutual understanding between groups in conflict.
The Convention on the Rights of the Children (CRC
Convention on the Rights of the Child
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is a human rights treaty setting out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children...
), established by UNICEF in 1989, protects children's inalienable rights by setting standards for multiple aspects, one of which is education.
Literature
- Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi: Basic Education, Navajivan Publishing House Ahmedabad. 1955
- Bernhard MannBernhard MannBernhard Mann is a social scientist, university lecturer of sociology and public health at the University of Bonn and at the University of Koblenz-Landau and a politician, representative of the Social Democratic Party.-Education and career:After college education in London and Paris and the...
: The Pedagogical and Political Concepts of Mahatma Gandhi and Paulo FreirePaulo FreirePaulo Reglus Neves Freire was a Brazilian educator and influential theorist of critical pedagogy.-Biography:...
. In: Bernhard Claußen (Hrsg.) International Studies in Political Socialization and Political Education Bd. 8. Verlag Dr. Krämer. Hamburg 1995 - Walter Molt: Die Pädagogik von Mahatma Gandhi. In: Anton Hilckman (Hrsg.) Archiv für Vergleichende Kulturwissenschaft. Bd. 7. Verlag Anton Hain. Meisenheim am Glan. 1970
- B. Solanki: The Technique of Correlation in Basic Education. Navajivan Publishing House Ahmedabad. 1958