A SECOND CHANCE
A common feature in all Member States is that the generation entering the labour market has a significantly higher standard of education than the middle-aged generation. The education opportunities for young people have constantly been expanded in order to meet the rising qualification requirements of the labour market and the expectations people have for education. Basic, obligatory education is no longer regarded as sufficient; instead, the target has been shifted to providing practically the entire generation with upper secondary education. Also the opportunities within higher education have been expanded.
Differences in the standard of education between generations have been one of the factors for putting lifelong learning in a central role in the educational policy of the EU. People who have not received upper secondary or higher education in their youth are now offered the opportunity to raise the standard of their education and thus, in their part, contribute to the functionality of the labour market, economic growth and social cohesion. But should not the second chance be regarded as a civic right in the Citizens' Europe? From what kind of individual situations does the motivation and ambition to raise the educational level spring? Immigration has brought to Europe new citizens, whose standard of education acquired in their native country may be extremely low. What kind of a second chance would these groups need? What is the role of the intrinsic value of education, or general education as such vis-à-vis the pressures of working life?
Workshop G: A Second Chance will deal with the measures that different Member States have taken to provide their adult population with a second chance to raise the standard of their education after basic education. The scope of study will range from the instruction of basic skills to university education. The variety of educational needs based on social development and citizens' expectations, organisation and extent of education, teaching methods as well as the central problems and development needs will be examined.
Excursion
Two examples of the second chance to learn in Finland. City Library of Turku will introduce the workshop members to its services supporting information acquisition and studying. The Upper Secondary Evening School of Finland will present adult education oriented to upper secondary level degree, and the various possibilities of dividing the accomplishment of the degree over a longer period of time.
