Advancing Adult Learning in Eastern Europe and Central Asia
In recent years skill shortages in the labor force have become a key challenge in many countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECA), suggesting that policies for continuous upgrading of skills of the workforce are increasingly important. OECD countries have identified adult education and training as a critical part of their education policy agenda, yet in many ECA countries this issue has remained peripheral to the efforts to reform education and training systems. This paper presents available evidence on the extent and patterns of lifelong learning in ECA. It argues that advancing adult education and training in ECA is important not only to meet the new skills demands but also to respond to a rapidly worsening demographic outlook across most of the region. While it is not equally important for all ECA countries, adult education and training should be high on the agenda of those ECA economies that are closest to the technological frontier and facing a demographic decline, such as the new EU Member States and Russia. The paper lays out a framework for government action to advance adult learning in ECA through a mix consisting of policy coordination between government and the enterprise sector, a sound regulatory regime and appropriate financial incentives.