Brussels, 27/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday, the European Commission adopted a communication calling on the member states to work together to support the EU's Action Plan on Adult Learning. The action plan is the follow-up of the Commission's earlier communication on the same subject, in October 2006: It is never too late to learn. It aims to help build an efficient adult learning system throughout Europe. This involves improving the adult learning sector's governance structure, and the quality, efficiency and accountability of its systems of delivery for learning activities, learning support and the recognition of learning outcomes. The Commission is urging member states to back its action plan through the following action:
- Analyse effects of reforms in other educational sectors on adult learning. Most member states are developing a National Qualification Framework that is linked to the forthcoming European Qualifications Framework to facilitate access to, progress in, and transfer between learning activities. These developments are potentially important for opening up qualification systems to adults.
- Improve the quality of provision. Quality assurance forms an important part of the reforms in education and training. The quality of provision is affected by policy, resources, infrastructure and a host of other factors, but the key factor is the quality of the staff involved in delivering learning activities. The Commission wants member states to pay greater attention to the training, status and payment of teaching staff in the adult learning sector.
- Increase the possibilities to achieve at least one higher-level qualification. Demographic projections for Europe emphasise the importance of investing in the human and social capital of adult learners, since the working population is continually aging. However, it is not enough to simply attract people into adult education and training. The opportunity for them to progress and to raise their qualification levels must be real and must allow them to better integrate in all spheres of life.
- Speed up the process of assessing and recognizing non-formal and informal learning for disadvantaged groups. Such assessment is especially important for the disadvantaged in order to facilitate their integration in society. It is important for employers and individuals alike, as recognition of skills could lead to important savings in time and money.
- Improve the monitoring of the adult learning sector. There is an urgent need for a common language to overcome misunderstanding and the lack of comparable data in the sector. For a regular update (on a two-yearly basis) of the developments in the sector, a minimum set of core data is required. (il)
