Permanent Education, A Framework for Recurrent Education: Theory and Practice.

Overview & Synopsis

The report provides an account of the work accomplished and the publications produced by the Council of Europe since 1967 concerning permanent education. Part 1 examines the historical perspective of permanent education, its development within the Council of Europe, and the implications of the principle of recurrence for other stages of the education system. Part 2 summarizes and assesses the 16 experiments which were conducted by the Council for Cultural Cooperation of the Council of Europe in various member countries as concrete examples of the principles of permanent education. Three key problems have emerged as themes in the council's analysis of the experimental projects: the problem of integrating mutually influencing but separate levels of education as well as educational activities with other aspects of human life, the potential conflict between individual development and social constraints, and the political problem of not being able to alter the educational system without modifying sociopolitical structures. Part 3 is directed toward the development of recurrent education as a new approach to adult education. Issues examined include individual needs, structural changes, course content, teaching/learning methods, unit/credit system, and costs. (EA)