ALE providers need structural and financial support to be able to continue learning programmes and courses in and after the crisis
24.03.2020

Support for ALE providers needed to mitigate consequences of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

Society throughout Europe and beyond is severely affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19). People are affected in their daily lives and are afraid of the consequences for their health, their workplace and their well-being. Across the continent, ALE providers are being forced to close, with dramatic consequences for employers, institutional sustainability, employees and, last but not least, learners.

Like no other educational sector, ALE employs thousands of freelance trainers who have to struggle with this situation. This particular employment model, which is precarious for many freelance trainers even without a crisis, is the result of insufficient structural and financial support for ALE providers over a long period of time, in almost all European countries.

Although courses and training programmes can still be continued online in some contexts, a large part of them had to be cancelled. Non-formal ALE not only provides knowledge, skills and competences but is also a key measure for the social inclusion of the most vulnerable groups in society. These groups suffer most from the crisis as they most likely do not have access to ICT equipment and strong internet connections. Moreover, in this difficult economic and social situation, people’s priorities are shifting towards satisfying their most urgent basic needs and those of their families.

EAEA, the voice of non-formal ALE in Europe, will closely monitor the situation and advocate for measures to mitigate the impact of the crisis. We expect national governments and European institutions to take effective measures to enable ALE providers and staff to cope with the consequences of this unpredictable crisis. Europe needs a strong ALE sector to meet the economic, social and environmental challenges of the coming years, now more than ever!

This is what EAEA members say about the coronavirus crisis:

This page will be updated regularly.

Text: EAEAPhotos: Canva

22.03.2023 Education in emergencies

EAEA calls for international solidarity to support the people affected by the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria

EAEA stands in solidarity with all the people affected by the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, calling on the international community to deliver consistent relief and recovery aid for these communities. Adult education is a fundamental brick of our society and will give an invaluable contribution to rebuild the affected communities.

16.03.2023 Bildung

Broader purposed, holistic learning is needed now more than ever

The ongoing European Year of Skills has put skills and the surrounding discussion into the spotlight. The new paper “Basic skills and Bildung” proposes that we should adopt a more holistic understanding of basic skills and rethink the teaching and learning approaches.

14.03.2023 inclusion

Taking steps towards safe spaces for adult learning: co-creating the SAFE Board Game

In February we had a workshop with members of the European civil society in Brussels in order to start with the co-creation stage of the SAFE Board Game. The participants agreed that a safe learning space is not just a place but is essentially how we create relationships that are self-reflective and inclusive.