International Adult Learners' Week UK 20-22 Sept 2007- Report
International Adult Learners’ Week 2007:
Reviewing a Global Advocacy Network on the Way Towards CONFINTEA VI
20th to 22nd September 2007
The International adult Learners’ week 2007: Reviewing a global Advocacy Network on the Way Towards CONFINTEA VI in
- To review the developments of national/regional adult learners’ weeks and learning festivals during the past ten years and to identify the lessons learnt, in particular the factors leading to successful and sustained implementation of festivals as well as the reasons for failures;
- To explore the future perspective of national/regional adult learners’ weeks and learning festivals as well as the International Adult Learners Week network, with respect to increasing the promotional and advocacy potential for adult and lifelong learning as well as support mechanisms and structures;
- To discuss the contribution of national/regional adult learners’ weeks and learning festivals to the Education for All (EFA) agenda as well as to the Millennium Development Goals, by exploiting the possibilities for reaching out to adult learners and by advocating for the importance of adult learning and non-formal education for development; and
- To begin work on the collective development of an International Learners’ Charter as an input for CONFINTEA VI.
The invitation suggested that ideally one festival organiser and one Adult Learner should attend the conference. Representation from
The expectations that were formed as we travelled up to Manchester on the Train regarding the conference were a need to review of the Adult Learners’ week / He Tangata Matauranga celebrations that have taken place over the last few years in New Zealand and what practical solutions can we bring back to New Zealand to make our celebrations of Adult Learners’ week / He Tangata Matauranga better. From a Leaner perspective Christine was also expecting to understand more about CONFINTEA VI and excited about her contribution to the development of an International Learners’ Charter. We were also excited about the relationships we would form an International delegation.
Whilst we expected a diverseness, we were taken aback by the warmth that existed in the forming of these relationships. What was interesting here is that whilst the conference didn’t necessarily aid in the building of these through its activities, in a forum such as this and with Adult Educators these begin to happen naturally.
Concerning Adult and Community Education matters it is clear that our differences go beyond language to the disparity that exists when we even start talking about Adult education in these forums.
When we talk about an Education for all agenda it is difficult to look past some of the issues that exist in countries that are less fortunate than ourselves. What was clear is the duality that exists in the need to focus attention on basic education for a large population of the world that are unable to access these essential tools in an environment that is equality based and the need to reaffirm in those more fortunate countries the importance of adult learning and non-formal education in their continual development.
One of the main themes of the conference was learner involvement and participation in Adult Learners’ Week. More importantly the question began to evolve that the concept of a week like Adult learners’ week should engage with learners rather than merely engaging with providers. Talking with a group of Scottish learners’ highlighted that they were part of a series of networks that had been set up and run for and by Learners. Often these networks were started by passionate learners, or ‘leader learners’ with the support of a provider or other network that was able to facilitate this properly. These networks then grew with like minded people that were passionate about the concept and the doing of life long learning. Next year there is going to be the first learners’ conference run by these networks. This was more than Quite inspiring as the voice of those not just providing but those participating adds a different voice with quite different motives than that of providers. With this in mind a comment from one of the key note speakers resonated with this approach,
‘We must recognise that Adult Education is first a culture then a sector, only one of them is truly inspiring’
Enver Surty, Deputy Minister for Education, South Africa reminded us of the tool of Adult and Community education to affirm the dignity of those people who are on the fringes of society driven by poverty or ostracised by colonisation. He also reminded us of the strength of Adult learning as a vehicle for developmental and political change. All these issues are pertinent to our environment in Aotearoa.
Edicio de la Torre from the Education for Life Foundation in the
Adult Learners’ Week / He Tangata Matauranga in New Zealand provides an opportunity to celebrate the efforts and achievements and contributions of adult learners, educators and providers through both regional and national events; strengthen adult and community education and raise public awareness of the rich variety of learning opportunities for adults; widen access to learning opportunities and encourage more people to seek advice and guidance about returning to learn and foster collaborative and cooperative networks and pathways among those who share an interest in adults’ learning. The international Adult learners’ week in 2007 highlighted that in an international arena we do a lot of things fantastically well. For the next decade of celebrations it is both reassuring and challenging to note that as we investigate other areas for increasing participation in these celebrations we will continue to do so.
Matt Walters and Christine Bruce