Meaning of Co-operative Education and Training

1. Meaning of Co-operative Education and Training

Co-operative education means spreading knowledge and awareness about co-operation — its meaning, values, principles, aims, working and benefits — among members of co-operative societies and among the general public. Its purpose is to help people understand the co-operative idea so that they can take part in it intelligently and support it. Co-operative education is broad and general: it is aimed at members, potential members, the youth, and the public at large, and it is a continuous process rather than a one-time course.

Co-operative training, on the other hand, means equipping the persons who actually run co-operative societies — the elected office-bearers, committee members, secretaries, managers and other employees — with the practical skills and specialised knowledge they need to manage a society efficiently. Training covers matters such as maintenance of accounts and records, co-operative law and bye-laws, banking and audit procedures, office management, and the day-to-day running of a society. Training is more specific, more practical, and usually more formal than education, and it is aimed at a particular group of people who have a definite role in a society.

In short:

• Education builds understanding and awareness of co-operation, mainly among members and the public — it answers "what is co-operation and why?"
• Training builds skill and competence to run a society, mainly among personnel — it answers "how do we actually run this society well?" …