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AGENCIES OF EDUCATION
Formal Agencies
•E.g. Schools, Colleges and Universities
•Agencies are pre-conceived and pre-planned.
•They are governed by rules and regulations.
•Developed as per the needs of the society.
•They have their own system.
Informal Agencies
•E.g. Home/Family, Community, School, State, Voluntary Organisations, Mass media.
•They are formed in the natural course of development.
•Not pre-conceived or pre-planned.
•Not governed by set rules or regulations.
Non-Formal Agencies
•E.g. Alternative Learning Systems. (Out of School institutions)
•Their status is in between formal and the informal agencies of education.
ROLE OF AGENCIES IN EDUCATION
Home/Family
•It is an informal as well as an active agency of education.
•Definition-- “By family we mean a system of relationship existing between parents and children.”
•Characteristics-- Universal, Limited Size, Centre of Social organisation, Innate tendencies as a
basis of family, Constructive influences, Responsibility, Cradle of Social values and Permanent
/Institution.
•Types-- Joint family and Nuclear family.
•Role in Education -
Physical development.
-Development of intellectual interests and abilities.
-Development of character (values).
-Religious education.
-Social development.
-Development of aesthetic interests.
Community
•It is an informal and active agency of education.
•Definition – “A community is a group settled in a area and bound together with more or less
common practices, ideals, values and culture.”
•Types – Population--Rural and urban, Basis of Profession, Nature of environment– Primary and
Secondary, Basis of Locus– Local and Non-local.
•Role in Education – Community has great potential to play an important part in education as, i. it
has finance, ii. Has customs, traditions and experiences which are educative, iii. Group
associations like peers, youth organisations, clubs etc which children join for recreation or
learning.
Financing education.
Control of Formal Education.
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Provision of Informal Education Media.
Community Values.
State
•It is an informal but passive agency of education.
•Definition – “Is an organised political community with the government recognised by the
people.”
•Types –Each state tries to influence and control education in order to fulfil its needs. States may
be broadly classified as under;
i. Totalitarian State: State is considered to be supreme and omnipotent in all fields of life. It has
absolute control over its citizens. Therefore it requires absolute control over education for the its
advancement and existence .
ii. Democratic State: The powers of the state are limited and well-defined. The state gives power to
its citizens by decentralisation, where people are responsible for their own welfare. The state
provides opportunities for the citizens to plan and execute the plans for their development and
happiness.
•Role in Education –
Provision of schools, colleges and institutes of higher learning.
Compulsory education up to a certain age.
Providing aims and objectives of education.
Curriculum Planning.
Providing financial assistance.
Control and supervision.
Incentives for private enterprise.
Research and In-service education.
School
•It is an active and formal agency of education.
•Definition – “ IT is an institution devised by civilised man for the purpose of aiding in the
preparation of the young to be well-adjusted and efficient members of society.”
•Characteristics -- Importance given to Child’s Personality, Emphasis on Social and Moral values,
Practical Knowledge, Community by itself, They conserve and transmit social heritage.
•Role in Education -- The role of schools in education can be broadly classified as academic, cocurricular
and administrative;
Intellectual development.
Cultivation of dynamic and adjustable adults.
Development of citizenship.
Development of character.
Physical Education.
Promotion of mental health.
Social and Civic development.
Emotional development
Preparation for Economic independence.
Mass Media
•It is an informal but passive agency of education.
•Definition – “When a message is communicated to a mass audience by many means, it is termed
as mass media.”
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•Types -- Movies/Films, Radio, Television, Press/ Newspapers.
•Characteristics – Has multiple use in various fields, wide range of influence, widespread use of
technology, vivid illustrations, able to catch and sustain attention, multi-sensory approach.
•Role in Education –
Provides an opportunity to discuss, ask questions, pause or review material.
Can be used to reward the class
Mass media Can be used to get students to pay attention to the subject matter
Can be used as a disciplinary tool.
The use of Mass Media to create or analyze information .
Videotape or print media as a means to start discussion or stimulate student .
NOTE: Look up individual types of mass media, their adv and disadv.
Voluntary Organisations
•It is a non-formal / informal but active agency of education.
•Definition – “tax-exempt, non-profit organizations working in development activities”.
•Types – Social organisations, Cultural organisations and Religious organisations.
•Characteristics – They are organised by private or public agencies. Cater their programmes and
activities to different age groups. Regular or casual membership, May be local, national or
international.
•Role in Education –
Informal Socialising agencies.
Develop interests, values, cultural pursuits, ethical behaviour patterns and a code of conduct.
Learn the spirit of social living, social service and social interests.
Play a role in adult and continuing education.
Provides financial assistance to economically backward students,
Provide basic vocational education to ignored sections of society.
Alternative Learning Systems
• They are non-formal but active agencies of education.
• They arose due to disenchantment with the formal institutions of education; higher
education was not easily available to everyone.
• There was a desire to develop alternative systems that would be less costly, more related to
development, quick results and taking education to all.
• Types – Correspondence Courses, Distance Learning, and Open Learning.
• E.g. NIOS, IDE Depts of Universities, YCMOU, IGNOU.
• Characteristics – open education for one and all, No age bar to pursue education, Study at
own pace, study material is supplied at home, complements/supplements formal learning.
• Role in Education –
-Helps learners to move vertically and horizontally, thus widening range of choice
available to them.
 -Flexibility is provided without compelled to give up using educational facilities.
 -Learning for life, earn while they learn.
 - Meet the needs of a diverse population.