Adult and Non-formal Education in the Global Context

Adult and non-formal education is an integral component of poverty reduction, it has the potential of enabling creative and democratic citizenship, giving voice to women and men living in poverty as well as providing tools for improving their lives. The paper examined the concepts of adults using chronological, biological, cultural and historical parameters and as well as adult and non-formal education by different scholars. The paper also explored adult and non-formal education in the global context like the Dakar framework of action, the focus on gender equality, women and problems of HIV/AIDS pandemic and United Nations Literacy Decade amongst others. The paper went ahead and examined some international agencies in adult and non-formal education like UNICEF, UNDP, UNESCO, IZZDVV, amongst others and it is a position paper that finally suggests that developing countries should increase budgetary allocations to adult and non-formal education, there should be effective monitoring and evaluation by agencies in order to ascertain whether the objectives are achieved or not and global advocacy on support in adult and non-formal education should be ensured towards the attainment of Education For All (EFA).

Msingi Journal

The Incheon Declaration 2015- “Towards 2030: a new vision for education,” recognizes the important role of education as the main driver of development, and therefore commits to “ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all(p. i).” The declaration further commits to “ensuring that all youth and adults, especially girls and women, achieve relevant and recognized functional literacy and numeracy levels and acquire life skills and that they are provided with adult learning and training opportunities (p. 7).”” This commitment is a clear recognition of the role of adult education in development. Sadly, although adult education and lifelong learning are key for achieving social change and reducing poverty levels, the sector receives minimal attention in development matters in many African countries. According to UNESCO the adult education sub-sector of state education systems remains relatively underfunded and marginal despite the...

2019

The development of policies aimed at educating and developing citizens is of crucial importance as a result of the particular contemporary societal characteristics, the global demographic changes, the intense rhythm of immigration, the rapid development of technology and the increase in the unemployment rate. This research, through the analysis of the text "Third World Report on Adult Learning and Adult Education (UNESCO, GRALE III, 2016), comes to explore the key dimensions of adult education policies. The methodology used to investigate the material is the qualitative analysis and in particular the methodological tool of thematic analysis with the contribution of thematic networks. The analysis of the text shows that policies supporting adult education should be universal, holistic, inclusive and without exclusions. A second dimension concerns the need for the Member States to modernize their policies, to control and evaluate their implementation. The proportion of public funding in the field of adult education constitutes a challenge, since it remains fairly low in the government's investment priorities, which seem to give priority to other areas, such as health, infrastructure and social welfare. Moreover, it appears that all countries do not interpret international policies in the same way. Thus, policies are sometimes used as a general frame of reference and sometimes as well-established practices. These practices could be implemented by governmental organizations, research institutes, civil society organizations, trade unions and other agents. Finally, governments, in cooperation with regional and local authorities and services are called to broaden their policies and strengthen adult learning and education. Towards this direction, the development of the mobility and participation of trainees in programs such as ARION, Comenius, Grundtvig, Erasmus and Erasmus plus is absolutely of major importance (UNESCO, 2016).

International Journal of Lifelong Education, 2005

This paper critically examines some key documents published towards formulating a set of post-2015 development as well as educational goals. The paper argues that even though ‘lifelong learning for all’ has been recommended as an overarching post-2015 educational goal adult education is not considered important. The paper identifies three major factors— overemphasis on measurements and comparisons, overreliance on corporate financing, and transnational governance of education—creating roadblocks for setting more holistic goals of education. The paper concludes that despite the importance of providing equitable educational opportunities especially to the adults of the most impoverished nations of the global South—known as the Least Developed Countries—adult education sector is completely neglected in the documents shaping post-2015 educational agendas.

1972

In support of a national literacy campaign in Tanzania, a report based on information supplied by District Education Officers at the Kivukoni Seminar in January, 1972, is given. Three major sections are: Follow-Up Reading Materials And The Training Of Voluntary Teachers; The Cost Of University Adult Education; The Evaluation Of Wakati Wa Furaha (A campaign focusing on Tenth Anniversary of Independence). Results show that the campaign is reaching the intended audience (rural population) and that the programs have drawn people from a wide range of ages. To date results 4 of testing have come from five sample groups. Mean scores from all groups on pre-test was 67%. After campaign the mean rose to 80%, a gain of 13%. There is some evidence that people learn from this type of campaign. (Author/NF

JWEE

The importance of education and the need for women’s education, in particular, is advocated worldwide. However, there are still impediments to the realisation of women’s right to education in Nigeria. It is through education that women acquire the desire and nature for the attainment of values, competence, skills, attitudes and knowledge. This paper highlights the need for serious consideration to be afforded to adult education generally in addition to adult literacy specifically in a bid to aid women in achieving their right to education. As such, the concept of adult and non-formal education being a basis aimed at the abolition of illiteracy amidst women in Nigeria was discussed.

International Journal of Educational Development, 2006

Cetta: Jurnal Ilmu Pendidikan

This research looks at education in adult development and how it affects education. This study is motivated by the rapid advancement of science, technology, and communication at this time, which necessitates the development and improvement of human quality as a solution to face the current of modernization; thus, an educational process is required that can play an active role in following changes and developments that exist both now and in the future. Recognize that adulthood is a time when you have reached a mature and complete view of life, which can be achieved through consistent decision-making. However, it frequently appears when people fail to recognize the significance of adulthood and middle age. The goal of this study was to examine and analyze education during the adult development period, as well as its surprise in education. This study employs an approach approach in data processing through literature analysis, particularly literature descriptions. Helping people face li...

DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals), 2022

Since 2009, UNESCO has published Global Reports on Adult Learning and Education (GRALEs), integrating an analysis of member-states' reported national data, policies and best practices. These reports focus on five action areas adopted in the Belém Framework for Action (policy, governance, financing, participation and quality), constructing adult learning and education as a policy object on a global level and strengthening UNESCO's role in the field of adult learning and education policy, particularly in terms of conceptualisation and in setting political priorities. Using the policy analysis framework by Lima and Guimarães (2011), this paper analyses the conceptual elements and political priorities of the four GRALEs and the latest national reports of Nigeria, Russia and Slovenia. Main findings indicate a discrepancy between conceptual elements and political priorities at both global and national levels, where GRALEs are observed to be closer to the democratic-emancipatory approach and national reports to the modernisation and state control approach.