ABOUT LIFE LONG LEARNING

 

The global economic, social and cultural development and change that started in the 1900s necessitated the continuous development of all individuals scattered around the world. In this context, lifelong learning paved the way for adapting to the society one belongs to and making professional advancement possible.

With the transition to the 21st century, lifelong learning, which has been frequently mentioned in Turkey, is a concept that puts people in the focus, destroys the understanding that limits learning to school, shifts it out of school, and adopts this to continue until the end of life. All of the learning activities that enable the development of talents, knowledge and skills from the cradle to the grave, be it individual, civic or social and employment-related, fall within the scope of lifelong learning. These activities can be formal, common, or natural:

 

Formal learning:

It covers the education given in educational institutions. At the end of the training, various qualifications are gained and a diploma is awarded.

Non-formal learning:

It covers formal education and training complementary to education. Private lessons, activities carried out by various groups, trainings given at workplaces, art or sports lessons are such trainings. It is not obligatory to give a certificate at the end of the training.

 

Natural learning:

It covers the learning process of people in their daily lives. It is possible that people are unaware of the knowledge, skills and abilities acquired through this involuntary learning.

The concept of lifelong learning has gained a lot of importance due to its contribution to the continuity of education by not being imprisoned in the school age and to be seen as a tool that increases the quality of life. On the other hand, the contribution of lifelong learning to the development of educational areas related to meeting vital needs, the participation of all segments of the society, including the family, in the decisions planned to be implemented within the framework of education, and the clear expression of ideas in goal setting, planning and management is also very important.

Lifelong learning, which emerges after the world-wide formal education does not meet the expectations of societies and industry, should not be perceived as an alternative to formal education. This concept should be considered as a contribution to the discovery of post-educational talents and the completion of deficiencies. Contributing to personal development by creating opportunities in learning, ensuring economic growth and realizing social integration are the main objectives of lifelong learning.

Lifelong learning is possible for everyone, as there is no upper limit to learning and developing skills.

 

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE OF LIFE LONG LEARNING?

The fact that people often encounter real life after school life reveals the importance of lifelong learning in solving problems because the knowledge or skills acquired to meet the current foreign demand are not enough for anyone on the planet to develop and adapt to the changing world.

Lifelong learning is also important because it is the most basic building block for becoming a “learning society”, preparing people for unknown situations and developing their capacities, triggering the increase of institutions that will meet both social and individual needs, and thus being effective in a wide area/society as a whole.

Lifelong learning, which is a democratic education, also ensures the creation of a democratic society and the education and training activities that are based on demand, not supply. It also adds value because it contributes to economic development by creating employment and creating social cohesion by increasing individual development.

Lifelong learning has become such a priority throughout the world because it operates independently of age, place, time or education level, because only with the demolition of these walls, the desire to learn, which has a deep-rooted place in human nature, becomes possible to spread throughout life. The fact that the future consists of societies that have adopted scientific humanity as a culture also reveals the importance of lifelong learning.