/ world today news/ The platform for lifelong learning, whose task is policies and projects in this direction, is holding the “Lifelong Learning” week in the European Parliament in Brussels for the fifth year in a row. The idea is to bring together learners, educators, experts and policy-makers and have the opportunity to discuss in depth long-term concepts of lifelong learning.
Lifelong Learning Week 2015 is important for two reasons – firstly, because the Lifelong Learning Platform is celebrating its 10th anniversary and secondly – because 2015 will be remembered for fundamental values and civil rights were repeatedly contested. These reasons reminded us of the crucial role that education plays in the fight against unhealthy ideas, social cohesion, tolerance and democracy.
In the week of “Lifelong Learning”, MEP Momchil Nekov, from the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, hosted a discussion dedicated to “The role of vocational guidance and counseling in the way of validating non-formal and independent education”.
According to the Platform, lifelong learning covers education and training at any age and in all areas of life, be it formal, non-formal or informal. The platform supported in 2012 the Council’s recommendations for the recognition of these skills.
Nekov introduced the participants to the current state of the process of recognition and validation of informal and independent learning and the role of education in building inclusive societies. “In 2012, the Council, with its recommendations, gave the necessary political impetus in the member countries to start the process of preparing legal frameworks for the validation of acquired skills. Some countries have made significant progress in developing the relevant legal basis, while others are still experiencing difficulties in preparing comprehensive validation strategies,” said the MEP. He drew attention to the fact that the “Europe 2020” strategy also emphasizes the importance of formal and informal education to achieve the set goals. However, Nekov emphasized that in the new political and social context, new solutions are needed. “Migration, unemployment, but also education are three of the main concerns of European citizens. I strongly believe that education is the answer to all these questions. More specifically, creating a synergy between formal, non-formal and independent learning will help to overcome social inequalities, to fight unemployment and to integrate immigrants into our societies,” said the MEP. He called for the recognition of non-formal and independent learning, not only because young people acquire the right skills, knowledge and competences suitable for the needs of the labor market, but also because of personal development and the transformation of learners into proactive and responsible citizens.
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