session - 1: Introduction

(the first meeting of the class was devoted to "getting-to-know" activities and orientation on the subject: Foundations of Education. Discussion on the meaning of education, learning,and being "schooled" followed.)

Education has been defined in many ways but generally, it refers to a process of acquiring knowledge, attitudes, skills, and habits, necessary for improving one's life.

No one knows exactly when, (in the case history of mankind) education began, or at least when was the word "education" first used. Theories of Creationism and Evolutionism attempted to give an explanation, but what is certain is that education is founded on the discipline of Psychology, Anthropology,Sociology, History, Philosophy and Law.

Through the years, education has been considered very important in building a humane society. Being educated does not necessarily mean being schooled. The acquisition of KASH can take place anywhere, for as long as there is a receptive human mind to acknowledge avenues for learning. Today, education is thought to come from any of the following:

1. formal education. This type of education is taken from a structured, chronological, school-based type of learning. The learners will be guided as what specific competency he is expected to acquire as he moves from the lower to higher level of education depending on his age level.

2. non-formal education. Still a school-based type of education, the non-formal education focus on a specific group and specific competency. There is no need for the learners to go through the process of schooling from the lower to higher level. Since this deviate from the usual heirarchy, this is termed as alternative learning system, which in the Philippines is under the control of the Bureau of Alternative Learning Systems (BALS).

3. informal education. This type of education is no longer a school-based since it unstructured and can be accessed from any media - Television, Internet, Seminars. Symposium, and other means where learning may take place.

Although a person can be educated from any source, still, there is a need to bring the pupils/students to school where learning is structured, regularly assessed and followed-up. The Department of Education's Project REACH (Reach All Children)attempts to address the problem of drop-outs: "Find the children, Bring them back to school, Keep them in School and Help them Graduate."

The education of the child is everyone's concern. All stakeholders - teachers, school heads, parents, local-government officials, non-government organizations, government organization, business sectors, alumni, church, and everyone should take the responsibility of educating the citizens of the country. This is the essence of the Education for All (EFA) by ALL.