ALA

The Sixth International Conference on Adult Learning (CONFINTEA VI) will take place from 19 to 22 May 2009 in Belém, Brazil, under the overall title: “Living and Learning for a Viable Future – The Power of Adult Learning”. The UNESCO Institute for Education is coordinating the process while an international advisory group has been created to prepare, accompany and back up the process. For additional information on this contact Bettina Bochynek b.bochynek@unesco.org and Carol Medel-Anonuevo c.medel-anonuevo@unesco.org.

This global forum will be preceded by five regional forums. The Regional Preparatory Conference for Africa will take place from 5 to 7 November 2008 in Nairobi, Kenya and is titled, “The Power of Youth and Adult Learning for African Development”. The Conference is organized in cooperation with the Department of Adult Education of the Ministry of Education on behalf of the Government of Kenya, the Regional Bureau of Education in Africa in Dakar, and the UNESCO Office in Nairobi.

Uniquely, CONFINTEA provides a platform for policy dialogue and advocacy on adult learning and education; and pushes for commitment and action on adult learning and education. CONFINTEA VI has three major objectives:

ðTo push forward the recognition of adult learning and education as an important element of and factor conducive to lifelong learning, of which literacy is the foundation;

ðTo highlight the crucial role of adult learning and education for the realization of current international education and development agendas (EFA, MDGs, UNLD, LIFE, and DESD); and

ð To renew political momentum and commitment and to develop the tools for implementation in order to move from rhetoric to action.

CONFINTEA VI will draw attention to the relation and contribution of adult learning and education to sustainable development. Among themes to be explored will include policies, structures and financing for adult learning and education; inclusion and participation; the quality of adult learning and education; literacy and other key competencies; and poverty eradication. Specifically, countries will demonstrate the extent to which country targets for EFA; Millennium Development Goals and other international development goals are aimed at and met through adult learning.

It is important that we add our voices to this important process that seeks to guarantee basic learning needs for all, within and outside schools and throughout life. We must therefore make our views known to the Regional Writers of the report for Africa John Aitchison (formerly University of KwaZulu Natal, now independent consultant, South Africa) and Hassana Alidou (University of San Diego, Niger) so that we influence the content of the Regional Synthesis Reports. Our submissions should highlight:

ð The key issues on adult learning and education in our countries and the region, and suggest key recommendations and benchmarks for adult learning and education for CONFINTEA VI;

ðExamples of cases, good practice and innovative approaches to AE and Learning in each country and in the region. Specifically, highlight the role of NGOs, CSOs and the Private Sector in learning practices;

ðHow past CONFINTEA commitments have been implemented and indicate the results achieved. Where possible provide statistical data on Adult Learning especially with regards to girls, women and youths;

ðThe extent to which education policies are integrated with economic, social, health, employment policies in each country; and
ðNew trends and developments in adult and lifelong learning

Our ability to input this process is vital as the Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (GRALE) will feed into the CONFINTEA VI Working Document. GRALE is  developed from three main sources: 1) National Reports for CONFINTEA VI and Regional Synthesis Reports; 2) reviews and analyses of existing studies, research findings and documents (secondary literature); and 3) published reports and ongoing initiatives or programmes of bilateral and multilateral agencies. These reports and the consultations and outcomes of the regional conferences will inform the “Framework for Action” to be adopted by CONFINTEA VI outlining key strategies/ recommendations and benchmarks for renewed action in and monitoring of adult learning and education.

The International Council for Adult Education (ICAE) proposes four themes as key areas of debate and decision at the coming CONFITEA VI, and at the regional meetings. These are offered in a spirit of dialogue with Governments, international agencies and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The four themes are:

1.       Poverty and growing economic, social and cultural inequalities at all levels: global national, and sub-national.

2.      The rights of migrant women and men. Fundamental tenets of this theme are that there are no illegal migrant people, only people without papers, and that above all, refugees have a right to survive and reconstruct their lives.

3.      The absolute priority of adult education, including literacy, as both part of the EFA goals and a critical tool for reaching them. Equally, adult education is a central but invisible component of the MDG goals and is indispensable to all strategies for achieving them. 

4.      Establishing a right to education for all adults regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, religion and disabilities. Policies and leglislation (including measures to address discrimination in all these areas) are pre requisites for achieving this but implementation of the right to education will be dependant on securing sufficient resources, including funding. This will be the ultimate test of governmental commitment.

 To these ends, legitimate international monitoring mechanisms are absolutely necessary.

This call is made on behalf of the campaign by the Gender and Education Office (GEO) of the International Council of Adult Education (ICAE). GEO’s fundamental role in CONFINTEA VI is to make sure that women and girls’ education remains a priority. We must work in a more connected way to ensure that our voices are listened by decision-makers. GEO comments and proposals are included within the ICAE strategic document available at www.icae.org.uy in four languages i.e. English, Portuguese, Spanish and French.

The process towards CONFINTEA VI affords us with an opportunity to return the issue of adult learning and education back on the development agenda as a perquisite for attaining sustainable development in our countries and in the continent. Therefore, we should use key forums available to us such as policy dialogues, meetings, seminars and the media to popularize our demands. In particular we can use the International Literacy Day and International Adult Learners Week in September to raise awareness on the CONFINTEA campaign at all levels.

Between now and November our primary task should be to adapt the ICAE document to the reality of our region in order to use the same for advocacy locally and regionally. Accordingly, please disseminate the documents widely to all women and human rights organizations, social justice movements; trade and workers unions; learning and education networks etc as it is comprises essential elements for our advocacy strategy.

For the Africa region I, Salma Maoulidi of Sahiba¶Sisters Foundation (sahiba.sisters@gmail.com) and Sara Longwe of Femnet (sararoy@zamtel.zm) are taking the lead to make sure that African women’s organizations and CSO, as well as associations of AE and Adult Learners input is availed to regional scribes. We, therefore, urge you to either make your submission directly to the Regional Writers copying us; or to us for compilation at your earliest convenience.  You can also make your views known to Diarra (diarra_sama@yahoo.fr) as he is involved with the Africa CSO report.

More importantly take the initiative and update yourself on the issues and the process. Read about GRALE at http://graleconfintea6.net/news.htm. View the status of national reports visit http://www.unesco.org/uil/en/nesico/confintea/confinteacountries.htm. Follow the process on CONFINTEA VI at www.unesco.org/uil/confintea6. Lastly, take action to ensure that we make a difference!

In solidarity,

Salma Maoulidi