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Preparations are being made for the Sixth International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA VI): ‘Living and learning for a viable future - the power of adult learning’, to be held in Brazil in 2009. As part of these preparations, member states are requested to prepare a national report on the developments in adult learning and education since 1997 (CONFINTEA V), on the current state of the art and future challenges of adult learning and education. These reports will constitute a major input for the Brazil conference, help to prepare a regional synthesis for the regional preparatory conferences and supply critical data for a Global Report on Adult Learning and Education (GRALE).

Global trends and the fact that Montenegro is in a transitional period have led to the need to reform the traditional educational system. The new educational system should be compatible with strategic development goals and the objectives of social and economic reforms in Montenegro: to build a democratic, economically prosperous and open society based on the rule of law, harmonious multi-ethnic coexistence, understanding and tolerance. These reforms require citizens to: contribute to economic progress, including employability and standard of living; act responsibly on the basis of the principles and norms of a democratic society; and be prepared for lifelong learning in order to be able to adapt to the changes in the labour market. The process of educational reform in Montenegro in the area of adult education focused on lifelong learning and the importance of social partnerships to achieve this, which led to defining a new approach and a clear concept of adult education. This reform process in Montenegro for the first time treats adult education in a qualitatively new way and equal with other segments of educational system. The reform specifies seven objectives: (1) to define adult education as a part of a uniform system of publicly valid education; (2) to improve the functional literacy and education level of people over 35; (3) to offer free elementary adult education; (4) to offer job training for people who did not complete education or for vocational rehabilitation; (5) to provide a system of re-qualification and further qualifications; (6) to support training within organisations; and (7) to increase the level of formal education for people over 30. Main areas that Montenegro will focus on relate to: enabling learners to acquire publicly recognised certificates of qualifications which are based on occupational standards; respect for and assessment of knowledge and skills acquired through non-formal and informal education and through work and life experiences; creating conditions and opportunities for distance education; and protecting the adult education profession by defining standards of knowledge and skills in teaching and training. Show less