24/08/2015 2 International conference Adults with special needs in lifelong learning Slovenia, Kranjska Gora, 6 October 2011 Ute Haller-Block Head of Unit.

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International conferenceAdults with special needs in lifelong learning

Slovenia, Kranjska Gora, 6 October 2011

Ute Haller-Block

Head of Unit -Leonardo da Vinci, Grundtvig and Dissemination, EACEA P3

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CONTEXT

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• 495 million European citizens

• 80 millions live in poverty or are at risk of poverty

• 19 millions of them are children

• 80 million illiterate or low-skilled adults

• 15 % of early school leavers

Some facts and figures

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• 6mio 4-year-olds not in early childhood education and care

• 1 in 6 drop out with lower secondary or lower

• Early school leaving almost double for migrant-background students

• Migrant and Roma overrepresented in special needs

• 80 million adults with severe deficiencies in basic skills

Some facts and figures

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• Gap in educational performance of children with migrant or ethnic minority background compared to native youth

• Low participation rate of disadvantaged groups in early childhood education and in adult education

Some facts and figures

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• EU and national averages conceal important local and regional realities

• No real common definition at European level on “special needs”

• Concept of inclusion

Some facts and figures

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• Ageing population

• Increased migration flows

• Digital gap

• Globalisation and economic crisis

Demographic and societal trends

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CONSEQUENCES

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• With severe consequences – also for the well-off (OECD, 2008; Wilkinson & Pickett, 2009)

• Those living in poverty face greatly reduced educational prospects and future life chances

• Violate basic principles of social justice and human development

• Undermine economic prosperity of nations, democracy, social cohesion

On society and economy

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• Have huge financial costs -rarely shown in public accountancy systems

• Urgent need to develop not only more efficient but also more inclusive and equitable E&T systems

On society and economy

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Means of action

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Policy

• EU2020 Strategy: smart, sustainable and inclusive growth

• Targets:– 75 % of the population aged 20-64 should be

employed;– 3 % of the EU's GDP should be invested in Research

and Development;– The 20/20/20 climate/energy targets should be met;– The share of early school leavers should be under 10%

and at least 40 % of the younger generation should have a tertiary degree or diploma;

– 20 million less people should be at risk of poverty.

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Policy

• Education and Training 2020 - Four strategic objectives:

Making lifelong learning and mobility a reality Enhancing creativity and innovation Improving the quality and efficiency of education and

training Promoting equity, social cohesion and active

citizenship

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Policy: DG EAC activities

• Cluster « Access and social inclusion »• 2006 Communication and Council Conclusions -

Efficiency and equity in European education and training systems

• 2006-07 - Communications on Adult learning• 2008-09 – Green paper and Council Conclusions on

migration and education• 2010 – Council conclusions on the social dimension of

education and training

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Other relevant EU-level work

• European “package” to reduce early school leaving (Jan. 2011) –Council Recommendation adopted on 20 May 2011

• Communication on Early Childhood Education and Care (2011)

• 2010-2011 report: Progress towards the Lisbon Objectives in Education and Training –indicators and benchmarks (April 2011)

• network of experts to advise the European Commission on social aspects of Education and Training: NESET

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Other relevant EU-level work

• End November 2011: Council resolution on a renewed European Agenda for Adult Learning:– Increased participation among low qualified and

disadvantaged adults– Focus on developing their basic skills through

guidance, validation and access to second chance initiatives

– Encourage countries to take concrete steps to enhance, intensify and coordinate policies to provide adult learning

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New Communication 2012

“Equity in education and training to support European inclusive growth”

• Likely to address– Will emphasise need for joined-up measures– Early school leaving from initial VET– Disability/special needs– The regional/geographic distribution of educational inequality in

the EU– Roma learners– Low-skilled and long-term unemployed– Inequalities in tertiary education– Private tutoring in the EU– Measuring and monitoring for equity

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Lifelong Learning Programme

• Support implementation of political strategies• Reflected in general Objectives:

– (d) to reinforce the contribution of lifelong learning to social cohesion, active citizenship, intercultural dialogue, gender equality and personal fulfilment;

– (f) to contribute to increased participation in lifelong learning by people of all ages, including those with special needs and disadvantaged groups, regardless of their socio-economic background;

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Lifelong Learning Programme

• And in main priorities:

– 5. Promote social inclusion and gender equality in education and training, including the integration of migrants and Roma

– 4. Promote the acquisition of key competences throughout the education and training system

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Lifelong Learning Programme

• At least 20 % of centralised projects have an inclusion dimension;

• "The Leonardo da Vinci programme reaches all social groups, disadvantaged persons included (18 % of the participants)";

• Almost 2/3 of Grundtvig projects and partnerships tackle inclusion issues.

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Lifelong Learning Programme

BUT• Budget involved is low compared to what is at stake

• The aim of the LLP cooperation projects is to develop new ideas and approaches

• Mainstreaming has to come from other sources: structural funds, national or regional budgets

• Dissemination of LLP project results is crucial, should ideally be used for implementation at national level

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Dissemination: thematic network

• UK NA in partnership with 13 LLP Nas• Cofinanced by LLP funds• Identify good practice projects within the LLP that

specifically focus on work with under-represented groups

• Identification of good, transferable practice

• Have a look at their website: www.llpinclusion.eu

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Conclusions

• This conference will contribute to the exchange of good practices

• Will foster mutual learning• Help preparing good projects in line with the

programme priorities