nonformale

Nonformale refers to a category of learning that takes place outside the formal school system but is purposefully designed and organized to achieve specific learning outcomes. It is commonly delivered by community organizations, NGOs, employers, or local authorities and targets individuals who are not enrolled in formal degree programs.

Key characteristics include voluntary participation, flexibility in scheduling and format, and a clear set of competences or skills to be acquired. While the learning is structured and assessed, the credentials awarded (if any) may vary by country and program. Nonformal education often yields certificates, diplomas, or recognized attestations, but recognition is not uniform across jurisdictions.

Examples include language courses at community centers, vocational and technical training programs, literacy and numeracy campaigns, professional development workshops, youth programs, and civic education. These initiatives typically aim to improve employment prospects, support lifelong learning, and promote social inclusion, particularly for adults, out-of-school youth, or marginalized groups.

Relation to other forms of learning is a defining feature: formal education operates within national curricula and culminates in formal credentials, while informal learning occurs incidentally through daily activities. Nonformal education lies between these two, offering targeted, teachable experiences that can complement formal schooling and feed into lifelong learning strategies.

Policy and recognition: Many governments and international organizations advocate nonformal education as a means to develop skills and reduce educational gaps. Efforts to recognize and credit nonformal learning, such as validation of learning outcomes, seek to bridge nonformal programs with formal qualifications.

See also: Formal education, Informal learning, Recognition of learning outcomes, Lifelong learning.