The lost value of informal education

According to today’s world standard, formal education is highly regarded while informal education is degraded. The determining factors that say the former is more important than the latter are merely brainwashing. From the definition, formal education is generally known to be classroom based- provided by trained teachers. On the other hand, informal education occurs outside the classroom. This could be in after-school or holiday programs, in community based organisations, museums, libraries or at home. Though the two forms of education vary significantly, they have the same purpose, that of educating the people. “In Africa, informal education is the oldest form of passing knowledge through generations,” said Donna A. Akariza the head of the English and Literature department at Riviera High school. The fireplace was the classroom while elders and parents were the responsible teachers. Folktales, myths, legends, songs, poems, riddles and proverbs were the teaching methods. According to Akariza, different activities were instilled into children at different ages. “Children below five years of age were taught to play together. However as they grew older, they were separated according to their gender,” she said. Adding that girls were taught by their mothers and aunties to cook, collect firewood, till the land and wash clothes while boys went with their fathers and uncles to hunt, fish and rear animals. “As they grew older, the more complex the topics became. In Rwanda for example; while herding cattle, boys learnt how to look out for their wives as they went to fetch water from the well,” she explained. During these times when children spent time with their parents, they learnt basic life skills and principles that enabled them to survive. In this way of teaching, knowledge and morals were passed on through generations without the chain being broken. The role of each family member in the home was clearly defined. Informal education is what maintained and preserved the society’s culture. Respect for elders was paramount and incidences of child disobedience were almost unheard of. While this ancient style of informal education, taught children to be creative, formal education is just the opposite. Children today have become experts at cramming theories and learning about things they have never seen or will never see in their lifetimes. Informal education has evolved over the years to what we now call after-class or holiday activities. Even the little that is left of it is not really applicable. “Most Rwandan schools do not teach fine art and crafts. If there are any, students are only taught to sketch still pictures. Children are not taught to be creative with what they already have for example how to weave baskets and mats, make sculptures which enhances creativity,” Akariza emphasised. “Today, parents who are supposed to teach their children these basic life skills are so busy with work. This has made children no longer value parents as educators and think school teachers can only educate them” the department head said.The absence of parents eventually affects the behaviour of their children. “As a result of parents not spending time at home, children especially in urban areas, have become totally ignorant of their role in society. They cannot do anything alone because they think someone else will do it for them” she explained. What was originally simple is now a complexity for so many and to get back in touch with that originality and classic form of educating is like a myth. Where formal education has westernised our culture by basing everything on a theory that is usually assumed and in most cases is not credible enough. One important aspect that made informal education valued was the practicality of every single principle taught. Unlike formal education, there was no need to hire a qualified lawyer, the king or chief was the judge. No need to hire teachers, elders and parents taught, no need for house maids and nanny’s because mothers personally nurtured children, no need for a security guard- everyman was a warrior, no need to run to a pharmacy- ‘everyone’ practiced medicine and knew which herb healed what ailment…the list could go on. In this regard I say this generation of children is by far ignorant of the value of informal education. The parents’ generation that has an idea about what it means to be informally educated is so busy. This leaves at stake the loss of the value of informal education and thus creativity. Now that the holidays are here, parents should grasp the opportunity to informally educate their children before schools open. At the same time children should be interested and ready to learn from their parents just like in the old days. Contact: anyglorian@yahoo.com