1. Extension Education

🔹 Definition: Extension education is a non-formal, out-of-school, lifelong learning process that aims to improve people’s lives—especially in agriculture and rural areas—through systematic transfer of knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

🔹 Key Features:

• Focused on rural people—especially farmers, women, and youth.
• Based on principles like grassroots development, learning by doing, participation, and adaptability.
• Emphasizes voluntary change in behavior.
• Delivered through Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), ATMA, Farmer Field Schools, etc.

🔹 Purpose:

• Promote self-reliance, productivity, and rural transformation.
• Disseminate improved technologies and practices.
• Build leadership and community capacity.

2. Adult Education

🔹 Definition: Adult education refers to all organized educational activities undertaken by adults (age 15+) to acquire new knowledge, skills, attitudes, or values. It includes literacy, awareness, and vocational development.

📌 The term “Adult Education” was first coined in English in 1851.

🔹 Historical Background in India:

• Ancient India used oral transmission—knowledge passed through discourse and discussion.
• The word Veda comes from ‘Vid’ meaning knowledge for excellence.
• Adult education was linked to achieving Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksha (moral, material, pleasure, and salvation).

🔹 Important Approaches to Adult Education in India:

Major Programmes in Adult Education:

1. NAEP – National Adult Education Programme (Launched: 2 Oct 1978)

• For age group 15–35.
• Objectives: Functional development, awareness creation, women’s education.
• Collaborative effort by Centre, States, UTs, colleges, NGOs.

2. RFLP – Rural Functional Literacy Programme

• Principle: “Each One Teach One”.
• Carried out with NSS volunteers and students.
• Emphasis on rural literacy and participation.

3. NLM – National Literacy Mission (Launched: 5 May 1988)

• Target: Make 80 million people literate (age 15–35) by 1995.
• Focus on functional literacy, empowerment, and community involvement.

3. Continuing / Distance Education: Definition: Continuing and distance education includes structured learning for individuals who are unable to attend formal education due to age, job, distance, or other barriers. It promotes lifelong learning.

🔹 Key Characteristics:

• Delivered via correspondence, radio/TV, online courses, and open universities.
• Ideal for working professionals, dropouts, women, and senior citizens.
• Offers academic degrees, diplomas, and skill development courses.

🔹 Popular Institutions and Platforms:

• IGNOU (Indira Gandhi National Open University)
• NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling)
• SWAYAM, MOOCs, NPTEL, EDX, Coursera

Comparison Table