Education is a goal-directed activity aimed at achieving certain goals, such as: B.

imparting
knowledge or promoting skills and character. These goals may include developing understanding,
rationality, kindness, and honesty. Various researchers emphasize the role of critical thinking in
distinguishing education from indoctrination. Some theorists claim that education leads to student
improvement, while others prefer a value-neutral definition of the term. In a slightly different sense,
education can also refer not to the process but to the product of that process: the mental state and
character of educated people. Education appears as the transmission of cultural heritage from one
generation to the next. Currently, educational goals are increasingly incorporating new ideas such as
the emancipation of learners, skills required by modern society, empathy and complex professional
skills.

The type of education is usually divided into formal, non-formal and independent education. Formal
education takes place in educational and training institutions, is usually structured around
curriculum goals and objectives, and learning is usually teacher-led. In most areas, formal education
is required up to a certain age and is usually broken down into levels of education such as
kindergarten, primary school and secondary school. Non-formal education appears as a complement
or alternative to formal education.[1] This can be structured across educational settings but is more
flexible and usually takes place in a community-based, workplace or civil society setting. Finally, non-
formal education takes place in everyday life, in the family, any experience that shapes a person's
way of thinking, feeling, or acting can be considered educational, both unintentional and intentional.
In practice, there is a continuum from very formal to very informal, and informal learning can take
place in all three environments.[2] For example, homeschooling can be classified as non-formal or
informal depending on its structure.

Regardless of the setting, educational methods include teaching, learning, storytelling, discussion,
and directed inquiry. Its teaching methodology is called pedagogy. Education is underpinned by
various philosophies, theories, and empirical research programs.

There are movements for educational reform, e.g. B. to improve the quality and efficiency of
education in terms of relevance in student life and effective problem solving in current or future
society as a whole, or for evidence-based educational methodologies. The right to education is
recognized by several governments and the United Nations.[a] The global initiative aims to achieve
Sustainable Development Goal 4, which promotes quality education for all.