Lifelong Learning for All! AONTAS Seminar March 2018
AONTAS – the National Adult Learning Organisation recently hosted a ‘Lifelong Learning for All’ Seminar in Dublin on 9th March 2018. AONTAS is the national coordinating body for the European Agenda for Adult Learning (EAAL) which is aimed at increasing participation in lifelong learning across the EU, enhancing policies and supports for adult learners, and gathering and disseminating best practices. In Ireland the participation rate in lifelong learning is 6-7% some way behind the EU average of 10%. There is a need to widen participation in lifelong learning to include people who have been educationally disadvantaged. In Ireland, life expectancy is linked to educational attainment. AONTAS points out that at aged 30, men with higher education can expect to live 6 years longer than men who didn’t complete secondary school, with the difference for women being 5 years. Adults who completed second level education are also 65% more likely to participate in lifelong learning compared to those who did not complete second level (UNESCO, 2015).
Representatives from adult education, further education and training, community education such as Age and Opportunity, EPALE Ireland/Léargas and Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) aswell as Dublin City University and University College Dublin, attended. Stephen Evans, Chief Executive from the Learning and Work Institute, UK shared his observations and experiences of widening participation in lifelong learning for workers across the United Kingdom. It was clear that the UK share the Irish commitment to lifelong learning and providing innovative programmes and access routes to education and training. What was also clear was that the fragmented nature of funding lines and budgets allows innovation and creativity to emerge in some areas which then have to cease when funding is cut. Evans commended the Irish further education and training community for their commitment and inventive programmes to encourage and support lifelong learning. The facilitated workshops at the event allowed disparate agencies and practitioners to share good practice and information on pilot projects and working groups on recognition of prior learning, wellbeing and health literacy in the community, and programmes promoting active citizenship and lifelong learning. It was emphasised that lifelong learning is lifewide and inclusive. Any work in this area needs to acknowledge and address the issue that people over 65 years of age, despite the aging population, seem to be invisible in terms of education, training and work. There was a consensus among participations that the quantitative, measuring language used in further education and training needs to change to reflect the human dimension of our economy and our society. More information can be obtained here.
