Lifelong learning for all: meeting of the Education Committee at Ministerial level, 16-17 January 1996

How can education and training systems adapt to the evolving needs of an increasingly global and information-based economy? What kind of policies can respond directly to the recognised need to develop the capacity to continuously adapt and renew? OECD Education Ministers adopted a programme of lifelong learning for all as the strategic framework for guiding education and training policy as we move into the 21st century. This framework seeks to foster learning societies where every individual receives the necessary knowledge and skills, where all are encouraged to engage in lifelong...  [+] Show more

How can education and training systems adapt to the evolving needs of an increasingly global and information-based economy? What kind of policies can respond directly to the recognised need to develop the capacity to continuously adapt and renew? OECD Education Ministers adopted a programme of lifelong learning for all as the strategic framework for guiding education and training policy as we move into the 21st century.

This framework seeks to foster learning societies where every individual receives the necessary knowledge and skills, where all are encouraged to engage in lifelong learning. Emphasising individual capacity and motivation to learn means tapping the potential for strengthening innovative energies, democratic foundations and social cohesion; it also means encouraging wide economic participation.

This report provides the elements of broad strategies, tailored to each OECD country. The success of such a programme, which can only be implemented progressively, entails significant changes in attitudes towards learning and a solid, broad commitment.