Recognizing the need to address the emerging needs of adult learning professionals, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the International Labour Organization (ILO) - Philippines pledged support in the Adult Education Program.
“Leaving no learner behind, the good thing about Adult Learning is that no matter what your age is, it is not too late to continue learning,” said CHED Chairman J. Prospero de Vera III during the webinar entitled “Moving Forward the Philippine Higher Education, Meeting the Emerging Needs of Adult Learners” on May 17.
Adult Learning, De Vera said, opens doors to upskilling even outside the formal education set-up. “CHED welcomes the ILO for this project, as internationalizing adult education is one of the top priorities of the Commission,” he added during the webinar which is one of the key events in CHED’s 27th Anniversary week and a highlight of the 1st National Higher Education Day celebration.
The webinar also featured several sessions on adult education and lifelong learning. Participating implementers include CHED, ILO-Philippines, and Adult Education (AE) Higher Education Institution (HEI) representatives.
“There should be equal opportunities for all, as these are the roots of better jobs for all,” said British Ambassador to the Philippines Daniel Pruce. “Lifelong learning should allow individuals to change careers and stay up to date on technologies and it encourages everyone to ensure greater access to training,” he added.
The ILO-Philippines extended support through its Decent Work Country Program which addresses decent work deficits in the country.
It provides information resources, publications, tools, research, statistics, training manuals, technical guides and other reference materials on work-related issues. The Philippines was the first country in Asia to participate in a pilot program on decent work.
Meanwhile, Lifelong Learning Technical Specialist Pedro Moreno da Fonseca explained that “lifelong learning is from cradle to grave - formal and informal learning that is lifelong, life-wide, life-deep it addresses the needs of the people because it is human-centered.”
The half-day webinar aims to allow participants to have a better understanding of current systems, challenges and opportunities of AE in the global perspective, lifelong learning and its impact on today’s employment and future of work, current global best practices and models that can be adapted in the Philippines, and the importance of having an institutional agenda for effective and sustainable adult education initiatives.
Attendees of the webinar were representatives from CHED, the Department of Education (DepEd), TESDA, Philippine HEIs, and other key adult education stakeholders.
“This is an opportune time to create profound changes in the Adult Education sector – by re-imagining its accessibility, equitability, global competitiveness, local responsiveness, and sustainability in the new normal,” said Atty. Lily Freida Milla, Director of CHED’s International Affairs Staff.
Meanwhile, De Vera thanked the champions of adult education and lifelong learning. “I believe that our investment in you will not be in vain as we move forward together in higher education,” he said. “As I have said, these opportunities are not here just for the transition - it will remain here for the future as this is now our new normal,” he added.