Term 4-05

Building a Learning Society.

This year, the college was effected by a very significant decrease (33%) in the funding it receives form the NSW State Government. The situation will likely be worse next year. Already funded at a very low level, (community adult education was receiving less than one quarter of one percent of the total education budget) adult and community education has been yet again relegated to the poor cousin status of education policy and initiatives.

On a recent visit to Tasmania as part of my role on the Adult Learning Australia (ALA), (www.ala.asn.au), I met with the Minister for Education of that state. It was an enlightening meeting and we as a Board were excited by the efforts being made Tasmania to build a thoughtful and learning society.

Of particular interest to us of course, was the Tasmanian governments’ effort in education and in particular, adult learning. In the results of our recent research into the future of Lifelong Learning, Tasmania scored very highly in efforts being made to incorporate learning into all aspects of life and at all stages.

Tasmania has a plan “Tasmanians Together 2020” which contains 24 goals under 5 sub headings. (www.tasmaniatogether.tas.gov.au/current_goals__and__benchmarks/goals). In each of the sub categories, it is clear that education plays a pivotal role in the construction and achievement of the over-arching aim. Specifically in Goals 1, 4 and 18 which are :

•“Ensure all Tasmanians have a reasonable standard of living with regard to food, shelter, transport, justice, education, communication, health and community services”.
•“Create a culture that encourages people to learn and develop new skills, including life skills, throughout their lives.”
•“Ensure education and training provides our workforce with the skills to support our business and industry.”

A close reading of the other 21 goals would draw you to the conclusion that education and its promotion will be pivotal to the success of the plan. Interestingly also, is that the plan has been constructed in such a way that it forms an on-going conversation with the community. On-line forums and feedback forums are a considered part of the process.

It strikes me that Tasmania is at odds with NSW. Their approach to learning is not simply one of utilitarian skill development. They see learning in the light that actually exists. That is, as a continuum of joined experiences.

In his report “ Achieving Australia as an Inclusive Learning Society” recently published for ALA, Peter Kearns states that:

“Building a learning society will require better recognition of the key role of informal learning in many contexts, and in the role of adult learning in building social, identity, and human capital.”

Tasmania seems to be well down that road.

Garry John Traynor
Principal
garry.traynor@scc.nsw.edu.au

The views expressed in this editorial are those of the author.

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