Depending on the country context, non-formal education may cover educational programmes to impart adult literacy, basic education for out-of-school children, life skills, work skills and general knowledge.

Non-formal education programmes do not necessarily follow the “ladder” system may have a differing duration and may or may not confer certification of the learning achieved. Non-formal education activities provide out-of-school children and youth access to structured learning, reinforce their self-esteem and help them find ways to contribute to their communities. In some cases, their activities may serve as a ‘bridge’ to help out-of-school children and youth improve their academic skills to the point where they can re-enter the formal school system.

ICT has proven effective delivery mechanisms to improve the accessibility of non-formal educational programmes. They are usually delivered through Community Multimedia Centres (CMCs), Community Learning Centres (CLCs), or Telecentres. Meanwhile, ICT literacy and ICT application skills have become important emerging life-skill and work-skill contents of non-formal educational programmes to help out-of-school youth and adults find work and become empowered in the information society.