How can you distinguish formal education from non-formal to in-formal education?

Answer 1

formal education happens in a classroom -- generally in an acredited program like high school, or acredited college.

informal education can happen anywhere else. sitting on a bench in the park with an elderly person who gives you some stories and insight, working on a project with your parent and they teach you how to fix a car or a fence or a loaf of bread. informal education does not need an older person teaching a younger person... your friends teach you things too.

Answer 2

You bring up many good points. The JW's have adopted a class-system, but one that appears non-functional as almost everyone in the religion is of their "great crowd" instead of anointed. But they have moderated this and very few JW's are willing to talk about the differences. So I am not sure that the Jehovah's Witnesses follow either Jewish or Christian models directly, it appears more like a mish-mash of whatever works best for the governing body of elders. They've always put their own needs above everyone else's, why would they change now?

Answer 3

formal education is attending a college or university.

informal education would be any education that does not earn you a college credit or a degree.