Non-formal education and rural development

A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK FOR ANALYSIS OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND NON-FORMAL EDUCATION AND THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THEM IS SUGGESTED. IF EDUCATION IS TO BE EFFECTIVE AMONG THE RURAL POOR IT MUST BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH HUMAN NEEDS AT THE LEVEL OF SUBSISTANCE AND SURVIVAL. NON-FORMAL EDUCATION CAN SPEAK DIRECTLY TO THESE NEEDS IN THE AREAS OF FOOD, NUTRITION, HEALTH, AND COMMUNITY WELFARE. IT CAN ALSO EXTEND THE BENEFITS OF FORMAL EDUCATION. THE FUNCTION OF EDUCATION WITHIN THE RURAL SOCIAL SYSTEM IS EXAMINED IN THIS PAPER. EDUCATION APPROACHES FROM OUTSIDE THE RURAL SOCIAL SYSTEM AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR CHANGE WITHIN ARE ANALYZED. IT CONCLUDES THAT NON-FORMAL EDUCATION HAS A SIGNIFICANT PLACE IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOR IT CAN BRING THE POWER OF KNOWLEDGE, FACILITATE COMMUNICATION, BRING ABOUT SHARED AWARENESS, AND LEAD TO POLITICAL POWER.