A 1974 World Bank report defined formal education as follows: Formal education: the "educational system" with a hierarchical structure and organized chronologically, extending from primary school to university and comprising, in addition to classical studies, various specialized programs and institutions for full-time vocational and technical training. The majority of data collected on the number of students and learners affected by COVID-19 has been calculated from the closure of formal education systems.
Ripoti ya mwaka 1974 ya World Bank ilifafanua elimu rasmi kuwa yafuatayo:Elimu rasmi: mfumo wa elimu weny utaratibu uliopangwa, kimuda na ulio na viwango, unaoanza katika ngazi ya shule ya msingi hadi katika chuo kikuu, pamoja na masomo ya kawaida ya kiakademia, mipango anuwai maalum na taasisi kwa ajili ya mafunzo ya muda mzima ya kiufundi na kitaaluma.Idadi kubwa ya data iliyokusanywa ya idadi ya wanafunzi na wasomaji walioathirika na COVID-19 imehesabiwa kulingana na kufungwa kwa mifumo rasmi ya shule.