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Thema
Transitions |
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Beatriz
Pont, Patrick Werquin
Adult
education in Switzerland and in other OECD countries- A comparative
perspective |
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Adult education is a very
contemporary topic. It is not only part of the discussion on
lifelong learning, but also includes a number of issues that
range from mastering basic reading and writing skills to vocational
training for new technologies, from economic growth to the notion
of citizenship.
In Switzerland, adult education has a strong professional focus.
Proof of this is the current legislative initiative under debate,
which concerns, at least at present, only continuous vocational
training. Adult participation in learning activities reaches
considerable quotas compared to other OECD countries. There
are however, numerous participation gaps in terms of educational
attainment, gender, geographic location, occupational categories,
age, etc.
Switzerland is torn between two paths. On one hand, there is
an apparent desire for public intervention to homogenise supply,
provide financing and assure some degree of equality. On the
other hand, it leaves the private market and training centers
to cover this ground. At the same time, the Swiss system is
fragmented because of its political structure: a federal system,
which disperses different responsibilities over different levels.
Being that some departments are subsidiary to others and the
multiplicity of actors and associations involved sometimes adds
to this complexity. This results in an absence of transparency
and a lack of co-ordination, which can constitute barriers to
the development of adult education. A number of measures that
have been taken, more or less recently, can contribute to improve
the situation. The more visible ones are the creation of forums
for discussion and co-ordination – Swiss Conference of
Cantonal Directors of Public Education (CDIP), the Swiss Federation
of Adult Education (FSEA), the Forum… – and the
setting into motion of initiatives to improve the transparency
of the system (eduQua, modularisation…). Meanwhile, a
society wide debate is taking place (at university, through
the OECD Thematic Review on Adult Learning,…). |
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