What is basic education

Basic education is more than just learning how to read, write and calculate. It

encompasses the broadest possible sense of learning -- formal, non-formal and informal --

and at any stage of life. Learning takes place in and out of school -- in the home, the local

community, the workplace, and in recreational and other settings. Not confined to

childhood and the formative years, it extends from infancy throughout the whole of life.

What exactly does basic education mean? Basic refers to the competencies, knowledge,

attitudes, values and motivations that are deemed necessary in order for people to become

fully literate and to have developed the educational foundations for a lifelong learning

journey.

Basic education is not a fixed or clear-cut concept and most countries have chosen to

restrict 'basic' to primary schooling, meaning the first stage of formal schooling. 'Basic', in

an increasing number of countries, however, now encompasses junior secondary schooling

and in other it extends to a full secondary education. China, for example, is shifting the

focus for much of the country from the primary school to the nine years compulsory

school, preceded by a variety of early childhood care and education programmes. In

Brazil, a law adopted in 1996 defined the whole system from day care provision to the end

of secondary schooling as 'basic'. Throughout Europe, North America, Australia, Japan

and parts of South East Asia, 'basic' includes both primary and secondary levels.

In a small but growing number of countries, some kind of post secondary or tertiary

education is almost becoming 'basic' in that it is seen as a foundation for working life or

further studies for all youth.