The definition of education is the process by which knowledge, values and skills that have accrued over the years are transmitted by society from one generation to another. Education is typically carried out in schools where there are students who learn from teachers the basic skills of reading, writing, science, history and mathematics. There is also vocational education for those who want to be taught certain basic skills that can be practiced as a profession. In addition, education can be carried out at a more informal level at such places as museums and libraries as well as on the Internet. These types of resources continue to grow over the years and afford many opportunities for excellent education.
There are many types of education. The first is preschool education for children which is education before the required years of schooling and is typically for infants and toddlers in ages up to five years. Although sometimes considered to be day care, many preschools provide a variety of structured and educational activities to prepare the children for primary education.
Primary of elementary education follows preschool and includes the first five to eight years of formal education where the basic skills are taught. The length of primary education depends on the local environment and may last until students are eleven or twelve years of age at which point they enter middle schools to provide a transition to secondary education. The teenage years is when secondary education occurs and, if a middle school is involved, typically occurs from the ninth to twelfth years of schooling, preparing children to be either be trained in a profession or to continue onto more schooling which is known as higher education. Higher education takes place at colleges and universities and offers undergraduate and graduate education as well as training and education in a specific vocation. Degrees and diplomas are usually awarded at the completion of higher education.