Lifelong learning is integral to building inclusive knowledge-based societies. Key competencies for lifelong learning are a combination of knowledge, skills and attitudes that are critical to personal development, social inclusion, active citizenship and employment. In an age characterised by globalisation, regional integration, technological advancements and various socio-economic developments, every Asia-Pacific citizen needs to possess a wide range of key competencies to be able to adapt to a rapidly changing and highly dynamic world.

In many countries, however, education systems are often fragmented and compartmentalised. To reap economies of scale, comprehensive lifelong learning systems are necessary to meet the evolving needs of different segments of the population and provide seamless pathways to learning. This requires a thorough re-evaluation of education and training systems and policies, and consequently, meaningful systemic reform and increased stakeholder participation.

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Community Learning Centres (CLCs) are central to lifelong learning. These community-led institutions support the improvement of people’s quality of life by offering education and training that is relevant to local needs and contexts. Catering to those who are at the fringes of society, CLCs have been operating in more than 25 countries in the Asia-Pacific and have become an integral feature of the region’s educational fabric.

However, whilst it is globally agreed that lifelong learning is a critical component of holistic and comprehensive education systems, there is a dearth of evidence in terms of how this concept is being concretely operationalised, particularly in educational settings such as CLCs. This project attempts to address this gap, and as such, will investigate the extent to which education and training systems in the region foster lifelong learning societies.

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Representatives from throughout region to gather in Chiang Mai to strengthen informal education and build networks to improve lives of region’s greying population and foster intergenerational understanding

Asia-Pacific’s population is ageing at an unprecedented pace that is expected to accelerate over the next 50 years. This demographic shift does not represent an oncoming burden, but rather an opportunity to benefit from the wisdom, experience and expertise of the region’s elderly.

The importance of lifelong learning is central to the concept behind Community Learning Centres (CLCs), making them the ideal venues to facilitate this type of intergenerational understanding. Sharing best practices in CLC activities aimed at strengthening communities by engaging the elderly and building a network towards this end will be the goal of an upcoming meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

More than 150 representatives from ASEAN +3 countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam, as well as China, the Republic of Korea and Japan), will gather for the “Regional Community Learning Centre Conference” from 24-28 February, organized by Thailand’s Office of Non-formal and Informal Education (ONIE) and UNESCO Bangkok. The theme of this year’s conference is, “The role of CLCs in promoting intergenerational learning for the elderly.”

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The Capacity Development on CLC Planning and Management: CLC Leaders in the ASEAN Community training workshop was held in two batches from 29 July – 30 August 2013. It was initiated by the Office of the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education and UNESCO when Ms. Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO visited Thailand in September 2012.  The activity aims to build the capacity of government officials on CLC planning and management in six ASEAN countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Vietnam and Thailand.  The training workshops were organized by the International Institute for the Development of Educational Administrators (IIDEA), Sirindhorn Institute for Continuing Education and Development (SICED), the Ministry of Education of Thailand, UNESCO Bangkok and INTEL. UNESCO Bangkok provided financial and technical assistance to these training workshops. 

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CLC Regional Conference 19-21 June 2013, Bangkok, Thailand

Over 500 regional experts, policymakers, educationalists, Ministry officials, researchers, civil society representatives and other stakeholders representing 25 countries met in Bangkok, Thailand on 19-21 June 2013 to share experiences and discuss the linkages and mutually supportive aspects of community learning centres (CLCs), national qualifications frameworks, lifelong learning and skills development. 

Co-organised by UNESCO Bangkok, the Ministry of Education Thailand and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Japan, the theme of this year’s Regional Conference on CLCs was National Qualifications Frameworks for Lifelong Learning and Skills Development.

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The regional conference on ‘Lifelong Learning for All through Community Learning Centres’ will be a key opportunity for CLC practitioners to discuss and exchange on enhancing efficiency of literacy programmes, advocating effectively on literacy and lifelong learning, identifying and delivering useful learning contents, and finally to provide answers on the role of CLCs when it comes to social entrepreneurship, BoP business and reasonable technology advancements and availabilities.

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Thailand will for the first time host a regional conference on community learning centre on 31 August to 3 September 2011 in Bangkok.

Over 100 participants from 25 countries in the Asia Pacific will be attending the event to exchange experiences and ideas on key issues to increase knowledge for effective and efficient operation and implementation of community learning centres (CLC) programmes.

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108 government officials and NGO staffs from 25 countries in Asia and Pacific participated in the Community Learning Centres (CLC) regional conference in September 2011 in Bangkok. The objectives of the conference are to exchange ideas and experiences and to discuss the quality assurance of literacy and NFE programme delivery, the decentralization mechanism, the literacy assessment and the coordination among stakeholders. The conference summary report is being prepared and will be e-published in early 2012. 

Technical support is provided to the DNFE, Lao PDR in order to strengthen Non-Formal Education (NFE) mechanisms and programmes to provide quality education for all.  With support of UNESCO, DNFE has finalized CLC guidelines and draft NFE policies and strategies.

UNESCO Bangkok also implemented a project to further strengthen the existing Community Learning Centres (CLCs) in Nepal, Cambodia, Vietnam and Samoa.  Nepal and Cambodia addressed the Multi-Lingual Education (MLE) both in piloting and advocating using CLC as a plat form of programme delivery. The project brought together key stakeholders and raised awareness on mother tongue education. Samoa and Vietnam addressed Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) at CLC level. It contributed to capacity building of CLC facilitators as well as increased communication among key stakeholders.