The status of adult education in local education strategies

Abstract

This article presents findings from research documented in reports prepared as part of a system project co-financed by the European Social Fund. The project was implemented by the Centre for Education Development in Warsaw, in collaboration with the University of Warsaw, under Priority III, Measure 3.1, Submeasure 3.1.2 of the Human Capital Operational Programme for 2007– 2013, Improving education management strategies at the regional and local levels, aimed at monitoring the state of municipal and county education strategies. Based on these reports, the status of adult education within education policy at the municipal and county levels was analysed. The findings indicate that adult education is not a priority for local government authorities, as reflected in their strategic documents. In local communities, education – especially adult education – must compete with other spheres of socio-economic life. The status of adult education in local communities is significantly dependent on local development policies outlined in planning documents, such as local development and education strategies. Therefore, it is crucial to strengthen local education policies that focus on adults, particularly at the municipal level, and to establish clear strategic objectives at the county level. Given that this article was written over ten years ago, an effort is made to answer the question of whether any changes have occurred in this area and whether the previously identified trends have intensified or have been redfined, based on analyses of selected contemporary education development strategies.