NARROWER AND BROADER MEANING OF EDUCATION

(i) Education in its Narrow Meaning

In the narrow sense, education is confined to school and university instruction. From this point of view, education of the child starts as soon as he enters the school where he is given a limited and definite amount of knowledge. Under this scheme,education of the child is over when, having received the given amount of knowledge, he leaves the institution and takes up some occupation in life. The narrower meaning of education has been summed up by T. Raymont in the following words:"In the narrower and more definite sense ..... education does not include self-culture and the general influences of one's surroundings, but only those special influences which are consciously and designedly brought to bear upon the young, by the adult portion of the community, whether through the family, the church or the state."In short, education in its narrow meaning is equivalent to schooling, instruction or act of training.

(ii)Education in its Broader Meaning

In its broader meaning, education is a life-long process. In this connection, J.S. Mackenzie says: In the wider sense, "It is a process that goes on throughout life, and is promoted by every experience in life." According to Prof. Dumvile, "Education in its wider sense includes all the influences which act upon an individual during his passage from the cradle to the grave." The education in its broader meaning is the cumulative effect of varied experiences received by an individual in his home life, out-of-home life, in the school, out of school, here, there and every where. In the words of Lodge,"All experiences are said to be educative. The bite of mosquito,the taste of a watermelon, the experiences of falling in love, off lying in an aeroplane, of being caught in storm in a small boat All such experiences have directly educative effect on us .... Whatever broadens ur horizon, deepens our insight, refines our reactions, and stimulates thought and feeling educates us."

Narrow MeaningBroader Meaning1. Meaning. Education limited to schooling and schooling and instruction.
2. Duration. Starts with the child's entry into a school or place of instruction and ends with the completion of specified course content.  
3. Aim. The aim of education in its narrow sense is to impart limited knowledge in specific subjects. Its aim may be to pass some examination.1. Education goes beyond  schooling and instructions.
2. Education is a process which goes on throughout life and ends only when life ends. It is a life long process.  
3. In its broader sense, educational aims do not get delimited to specific attainment. However, they may be stated in their most general sense. Education in this sense becomes man- making activity. Its aim is all-round development of human personality.4. Methods. Education in the narrow sense makes use of limited methodology. It is the confined to classroom teaching in which text-book is the be-all and end-all of instruction.
5. Contents. Contents of education limited to are specific bits of knowledge which pre-determined. are Each portion of the content is spread over a limited time- scale. It is to be completed for a specific purpose within specific time. Contents include only the academic subjects traditionally taught in the school.4. There is no limited methodology. Experience is touch-stone of education in in its wider sense. Education is one with life which teaches in both bitter and sweet ways.
5. Contents of education encompass the whole life. No specific time-scale is enough to acquire the whole knowledge. Contents of education in its wider sense "includes the totality of experiences that pupil receives through the manifold activities that go on in the school, in the classroom, library, laboratory, workshop, playground and in the numerous informal contacts between teachers and pupils."