Other ways we learn
Although schools are very important they are not the only places where we learn. We also learn from people around us, from organisations we join, and through peer education.
Informal Education refers to when we learn things in our daily lives, from people and the environment around us. We acquire attitudes, values, skills and knowledge from our family, friends, the media and other factors in our lives. Everyday life is a very important source of education. We may not realize we are learning new things, but all of the time we are absorbing new ideas and information.
Non-formal Education is the name given to organized educational activities away from school. Young people can join various youth organisations and clubs. These offer young people the chance to develop new skills, meet new people, and discover new interests. These organisations usually try to use methods that are different to schools. For example young people are likely to spend much more time having fun, being active and interacting with other people.
Peer Education is about young people imparting information to others of a similar age (your 'peers'). Peer Education is an increasingly popular method of providing information and advice to young people. It is, however, not a new concept, and can be traced back as far as Aristotle in ancient Greece. The rationale behind Peer Education is that peers are a more trusted and credible source of information, as they share similar experiences and are therefore better placed to provide relevant, meaningful and honest information. Young people usually require some training to learn effective methods for educating their peers. Peer education is an effective way to complement, rather than substitute for, other forms of education in school.