29.03.2021 COVID-19, funding, life skills

Let’s insist on using the Recovery and Resilience Fund for Adult Learning and Education!

The deadline for the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RFF) is coming up. It’s necessary that all member states include an appropriate percentage for adult learning and education (ALE). The money should also be foreseen for systemic and methodological reforms and initiatives rather than hardware and existing programmes. EAEA therefore calls on the member states to include ALE in their plans and the European Commission to insist on its proper inclusion.

Read the full statement: Let’s insist on using the Recovery and Resilience Fund for Adult Learning and Education! (pdf)

Summary of the statement

The RRF requires EU Member States to draw up plans for their recovery and resilience. These should contain a coherent package of reforms and public investment projects to be implemented by 2026. National reform programmes should be in line with the country-specific recommendations of the European Semester of recent years.

This is a unique chance for the EU Member States to strengthen national and regional lifelong learning and adult education systems through coherent strategies and investment. Education, training and learning play a key role in the recovery from the COVID crisis. EAEA believes that a successful recovery of Europe is not possible without the promotion of life skills – including digital and sustainability skills – through adult learning and education and therefore calls on Member States to use the available funds accordingly.

EAEA calls on the European Commission to

  • Insist on adequate resources for adult learning and education to be included in the national plans
  • Ensure that the resources are being used for systemic and methodological initiatives
  • Ensure that key objectives are met during the implementation phase of the programmes

EAEA calls on the EU Member States to

  • use this unique opportunity to strengthen national and regional lifelong learning and adult education systems through coherent strategies and investment in the sector
  • adopt a holistic approach to adult learning, in which formal and non-formal learning have their equal place and where “life skills” – including digital skills and sustainability skills/green skills – are central.

More information:

Gina Ebner
gina.ebner(at)eaea.org

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