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Friday, 29.03.2024, 07:55
Almost half adults participate in life-long learning in Latvia
Just like in
previous years, in 2016 females participated in education and training more
often than males (51.9% and 42.7%, respectively). Nevertheless, the level of
participation of males has increased over recent years, and since 2011 the
share of males participating in life-long learning has grown by
15.8 percentage points, while that of females – by
14.6 percentage points.
In addition, more than a half
of population aged 25–34 and 35–44 participated in adult education and training
activities in 2016 – 56.9% and 52.8%, respectively. Smaller share of
adult education participants was observed within the age groups 45–54 (46.6%)
and 55–64 (34.1%). Compared to 2011, participation in life-long learning has
grown in each age group, with the highest increase in that of 25–34 years
(of 18.9 percentage points) and the lowest in that of 55–64 years
(of 14.4 percentage points).
Persons that had acquired
higher education as well as employed persons were participating in adult
education more commonly – 65.9% and 55.7%, respectively. Similar trend may be
observed also in results of the previous surveys.
People that were willing, but
did not participate in education and training, mentioned the following
difficulties: cost: training was too expensive, could not afford (48.4%),
schedule: training conflicted with work schedule (42.2%), and family
responsibilities: lack of time due to family responsibilities (30.5%). The main
difficulty mentioned by males was schedule (44.3%), whereas that indicated by
females – cost (52.6%). Respondents aged 25–54 admitted that main difficulties
were related to the schedule, whereas people aged 55–64 admitted that were
hindered by health or age and cost.
Work quality is improved by participating mainly in non-formal education
Life-long learning consists of
formal and non-formal education, as well as informal learning3. Out
of the population aged 25–64, 4.4% participated in formal education. Out of
them, employed persons took the largest share (76.4%), followed by the population
aged 25–34 (64.8%) and persons that had acquired higher education (52.0%).
Significant place in the
life-long learning is devoted to non-formal education. Out of the population
aged 25–64, 45.7% participated in non-formal education. The main reasons for
participating in courses, conferences, workshops or seminars were to do job
better and/or improve carrier prospects (89.2%), to increase knowledge/skills
on a subject that interests (71.4%), and to get knowledge/skills useful in
everyday life (70.9%). Adult participation in non-formal education was mainly
job-related (it was indicated by 77.3% of the surveyed population).
Out of the population aged
25–64, 82.1% participated in informal learning activities, which are not
organised, are less structured and can take place almost anywhere: within the
family, at work, acquiring information from mass media, books, museums,
exhibitions and other social events, sharing experience with parents, friends,
colleagues or taking their best practice. In the number of mentioned people,
employed persons took the largest proportion (77.7%), followed by the
population aged 25–34 (26.7%) and persons that had acquired secondary education
(50.6%).
Adult Education Survey is
conducted once in five years in all European Union Member States based on a
methodology developed by the Statistical Office of the European Union
(Eurostat). The survey is aimed at acquiring comprehensive and internationally
comparable information on Latvian adult population (aged 25–64) participating
in life-long learning. The survey covered population aged 25–64 within the
whole territory of Latvia, and 5803 persons participated in the survey.
Methodological
explanations
1Formal education – a system which includes basic education, secondary
education and higher education levels the acquisition of the programme of which
is certified by an education or professional qualification document recognised
by the State, as well as an education and professional qualification document.
2Non-formal education – any organised educational activities outside of the
formal education system, organised as courses, conferences, lectures, seminars
or workshops. The aim of non-formal education is to acquire or improve one’s
skills, knowledge and competences related to work, public and personal aims.
3Informal learning – learning that is intentional, but is less organised and
less structured, i.e. non-taught learning with an aim to improve one’s skills,
acquire new knowledge. Informal learning may take place as follows: 1)
self-learning using pre-printed materials (books, magazines, specific
literature); 2) interactive learning using a computer, the Internet; 3)
learning acquiring information from radio or television broadcasts, audio-video
tapes; 4) attendance of libraries, training centres; 5) learning from family
members, colleagues.
More detailed
information on Adult Education Survey will be available in the CSB database on
19 December 2017.