Lifelong learning in Australia: a policy failure

Since OECD Education Ministers declared ‘lifelong learning for all’ a policy priority in 1996, the concept has been embraced by many politicians and education stakeholders in Australia. Lifelong learning has been the focus of numerous Ministerial statements and government reports over the past eight years, but in practice, there has been minimal change to Australia’s education and training system. This paper argues that the lifelong learning policy agenda threatens entrenched interests in Australian education and training that are an obstacle to structural reform. The author identifies...  [+] Show more

Since OECD Education Ministers declared ‘lifelong learning for all’ a policy priority in 1996, the concept has been embraced by many politicians and education stakeholders in Australia. Lifelong learning has been the focus of numerous Ministerial statements and government reports over the past eight years, but in practice, there has been minimal change to Australia’s education and training system. This paper argues that the lifelong learning policy agenda threatens entrenched interests in Australian education and training that are an obstacle to structural reform. The author identifies three areas where lifelong learning is a challenge to governments: the dominance of the formal sectors; Commonwealth/State financial relations; and performance measurement. The paper concludes that in the absence of major structural change, lifelong learning is likely to remain in the ‘too hard’ basket of national education policy and the needs of individual learners across their lifespan will not be addressed in Australia.

Published abstract used with the permission of the copyright holder.