Draft UNESCO Recommendation on Adult Learning and Education now available online

The revision of the 1976 Recommendation on the Development of Adult Education requested by the Belém Framework for Action has reached its final phase. In accordance with UNESCO’s rules and regulations, a final report on the revision process has recently been sent to Member States together with a draft text of the revised Recommendation.

This draft was prepared on the basis of comments and observations on a working draft received from forty-seven Member States. The draft text refers to the concept of lifelong learning and underlines the overarching aim of adult learning and education, which is to ensure that all adults participate in their societies and in the world of work. The draft takes into account the three key domains of adult learning and education: literacy and basic skills; continuing training and professional development; and education and learning opportunities for active citizenship ‒ variously known as community, popular or liberal education ‒ which aim to empower people to engage with a wide range of social issues. The potential supportive function of information and communication technologies (ICT) is underlined.

The draft will be submitted to the 38^th General Conference in the autumn for adoption. The document is now available online in English, French, Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Chinese.