Seventh International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VII)
The seventh International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VII) will be hosted by Morocco in 2022. Over 1,000 participants are expected to take part in the conference, which will examine effective adult learning and education policies within a lifelong learning perspective and within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Conference participants will develop a new framework for action on adult learning and education that will replace the Belém Framework for Action (BFA), adopted at CONFINTEA VI in 2009.
CONFINTEA VII will encourage UNESCO Member States to put in place policies, incentives, regulatory frameworks and institutional structures and mechanisms to contribute to a human rights culture, social justice, shared values and sustainability. In recognition of continuing advancements in artificial intelligence, special attention will be paid to using information and communications technologies to promote access to adult learning and education and inclusion.
Preparatory process
Preceded by several sub-regional consultations, the regional preparatory conferences will provide localized perspectives and prepare the ground for the global conference in Morocco in 2022. Participants of the regional preparatory conferences will work to identify current key issues on adult learning and education in each region and suggest benchmarks and recommendations for CONFINTEA VII. These will take the form of outcome documents comprising central inputs that will be used to draft the framework for action to be adopted during CONFINTEA VII.
The regional preparatory conferences scheduled to take place are:
Africa
19 May 2021: West Africa sub-regional consultation
Presentations:
- Overview of objectives of the sub-regional consultation for CONFINTEA VII
- Adult Learning and Education (ALE) in Ghana presented by Mr. Kingsley Kofi BOACHIE, Mr. Francis ASUMADU and Mr. John Mensah ANANG
- Current Status, Achievements and Challenges in Adult Learning and Education and Lifelong Learning in Liberia presented by Mr. Thomas R. Clarke, Director/Alternative Education, and Ms. Vivian Logan, National Coordinator/Alternative Learning Program
- Ale and LLL in Nigeria: Prospects, Challenges and The Way Forward presented by Abba Abubakar Haladu, National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education (NMEC) Abuja, Nigeria
- Current Status, Achievements and Challenges in Adult Learning and Education (ALE) and Lifelong Learning (LLL) in Sierra Leone presented by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education and the Non-formal Education Directorate Sierra Leone
- Situation actuelle, réalisations accomplies et défis à relever en matière d’apprentissage et d’éducation des adultes (AEA) et d’apprentissage tout au long de la vie au Togo presented by Dr Ayélé Rosalie EKLU-KOEVANU, Directrice de l’alphabétisation et de la formation des adultes, Coordonnatrice nationale de la RAMAA-Togo
- Towards CONFINTEA VII (2022): The CONFINTEA preparatory process CONFINTEA VII sub-regional consultation for Africa presented by Angela Owusu-Boampong, Spécialiste de programme, UIL
- Vers La CONFINTEA VII (2022) : Le processus de préparation de la CONFINTEA Consultation sous-régionale Afrique pour la CONFINTEA VII 2022 presented by Angela Owusu-Boampong, Programme Specialist, UIL
2 June 2021: West Africa (Sahel) sub-regional consultation
Presentations:
- Présentation du Burkina Faso, Ministry of National Education, Literacy and Promotion of National Languages, General Secretariat, General Directorate of Non-Formal Education
- L'Apprentissage et l’Éducation des Adultes (AEA) au Cap-Vert, Ministry of Education, Cape Verde, National Directorate of Education, General Secretariat, General Directorate of Non-Formal Education
- Current Situation, achievement and Challenges of Adult and Non-formal Education(Anfe) in The Gambia, Saikou Dibba
- Présentation du Mali, Ministry of National Education, Republic of Mali, General Secretariat
- Rapport de présentation, Ministry of National Education, Republic of Mali, General Secretariat
- Présentation du Niger, Dr. Roufai Ali, Director-General, IFAENF
- Situation de la sous-région, Dr Momar Seck, Consultant in Education Training
- Présentation nationale pour le Sénégal, Mrs Ndèye Name DIOUF, Director of Literacy and National Languages
- Vers La CONFINTEA VII (2022) : Le processus de préparation de la CONFINTEA Consultation sous-régionale Afrique pour la CONFINTEA VII 2022, Angela Owusu-Boampong, Programme Specialist, UIL
21 June 2021: Eastern and Southern Africa sub-regional consultation
23 June 2021: Central Africa sub-regional consultation
Arab States
17 March 2021: Civil society representatives
24 March 2021: Governmental and civil society representatives
Presentations:
Asia and the Pacific
20 January 2021: East and North-East Asia sub-regional consultation
Presentations:
- The Trend of Lifelong Learning in Japan, presented by the Lifelong Learning Promotion Division, Education Policy Bureau
- Current Situation and Challenges in Adult Education in Mongolia, presented by the National Center for Lifelong Education of Mongolia
- Lifelong Learning in Korea – a Brief Overview, presented by the National Institute for Lifelong Education, Republic of Korea
25 February 2021: Central Asia sub-regional consultation
Recording:
- English
- Russian
Presentations:
30 March 2021: South Asia sub-regional consultation
Presentations:
- Non-Formal and Continuing Education Division, Department of Adult and Higher Education, Ministry of Education, Bhutan
- Pakistan: Country Presentation
- Maldives Country Report, presented by: Dr. Abdulla Rasheed, Minister of State for Education
- Country Presentation: Nepal
- Adult Learning and Education (ALE) in Bangladesh, Ministry of Primary and Mass Education Bangladesh
- Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education
- India, presented by Mr. Vipin Kumar, IAS, Joint Secretary to the Government of India
- Sri Lanka, presented by K.A.D. Punyadasa, Director Of Education, Non formal and Special Education, Ministry of Education – Sri Lanka
05 April 2021: South-East Asia sub-regional consultation
29 July 2021: Pacific sub-regional consultation
TBC: Asia-Pacific regional consultation
Europe and North America
TBD
Latin America and the Caribbean
Fifth edition of the UNESCO Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (GRALE 5)
With its review of achievements made since CONFINTEA VI (2009), the fifth Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (GRALE 5), which will be presented at CONFINTEA VII, will play an important role in conference deliberations. Through survey data, policy analysis and case studies, GRALE monitors whether UNESCO Member States are putting their international ALE commitments into practice. The GRALE reports provide policy-makers and practitioners with sound recommendations for the future of adult learning.
Previous CONFINTEA conferences
Key documents
Belém Framework for Action (BFA)
Recommendation on Adult Learning and Education (RALE 2015)
