LIBERAL ADULT EDUCATION: PREVENTING MARGINALIZATION AND PROMOTING EMPLOYMENT
Particularly in the 1990s unemployment and the subsequent marginalisation have been painful problems for the entire Europe. The number of unemployed in the Member States has for long been more than 20 million, and the average level of unemployment around 10-11 %. Measures creating employment are included in the top priorities of adult education. Several adult education and liberal education projects, programmes and networks have been launched to prevent marginalization and promote employment - both with support from the EU Structure Funds and by means of national financing. Despite the gradually brightening future of the employment situation, the great number of long-term unemployed in the Member States threatens to remain permanent.
The marginalization in the 1990s is both a consequence and an ally of long-term unemployment. It is not merely an economic question. Marginalization extends to the social and cultural life of an individual; for instance through denied access to communication possibilities provided by the new technology and exclusion from the progress of internationalisation. Job-related marginalisation has lead to political exclusion all around Europe, which shows in the poor turn-out of the elections.
The crucial question is to what extent can the basic problem, creating employment opportunities, be solved by means of adult education and liberal education. How are jobs actually created? How can labour market training, entrepreneur training and liberal education influence the labour market? Do we have to accept that one of the functions of liberal education should be to offer recreational activities merely as an alternative to idleness?
Is there a particular demand in the field of liberal education for studies promoting equality; studies which would improve the survival of people with lesser opportunities in a society requiring education and knowledge? At European level, would it be possible to develop study programmes promoting equality and lifelong learning with the methods of liberal education for those who are excluded from on-the-job learning due to unemployment, short-term jobs, marginalisation or disability? Should the central objective be the promotion of confidence, job application skills and personal career planning?
Excursion
Visit to the Masina Project Centre of Turku. The centre both acts as a contact point for employers and the unemployed and offers the unemployed various opportunities for education, training and leisure activities. The Masina Project Centre is supported by the European Social Fund, the Employment and Economic Development Centre and the City of Turku.
