Abstract
In this chapter, it is posited that lifelong learning is a pivotal, people-centred educational strategy that should be tapped for meeting several targets for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Lifelong learning should, therefore, be given more space in the SDGs. The chapter outlines some of the tensions that surround the concept, goals, and purpose of lifelong learning. It offers an explanation of the arguments that ultimately led to the recognition of the need to include lifelong learning in the SDGs, but argues that lifelong learning is still inadequately reflected within and across the 17 goals. The rest of the chapter introduces the three main modes of lifelong learning: formal, non-formal, and informal. It is argued that these latter two modes are the least recognised in the SDGs, particularly in relation to poverty, health, and the environment, even though they are the most likely to contribute to the needs of the underserved and underprovided social groups. This chapter, therefore, focuses on these two modes with a view to exploring how they could be operationalised to contribute to the achievement of all the SDGs in the African context.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
African Union (2015) Common African position (CAP) on the post 2015 development agenda. http://www.who.int/pmnch/development_agenda.pdf?ua=1. Accessed 20 Aug 2017
Delors J, Al Mufti I, Amagi I, Caneiro R, Chung F, Geremek B, Gorham W, Kornhauser A, Manley M, Quero MP, Savané M-A, Singh K, Stavenhagen R, Suhr MW, Nanzhao Z (1996) Learning: the treasure within. UNESCO, Paris
Jeffs T, Smith MK (2011) What is informal education? In: The Encyclopaedia of informal education. http://infed.org/mobi/what-is-informal-education/. Accessed 31 August 2017
Jarvis P (2007) Globalisation, lifelong learning and the learning society. Routledge, London
Jarvis P (2009) Lifelong learning: a social ambiguity. In: Jarvis P (ed) The Routledge international handbook of lifelong learning. Routledge, Abingdon, pp 9–18
Jarvis P (2012) Introduction: human learning. In: Jarvis P, Watts M (eds) The Routledge international handbook of learning. Routledge, Abingdon, pp 1–4
Karani, F. A. (2002). Provision of basic education to nomadic pastoralists in Kenya. Paper prepared for the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology at KCCT-Mbagathi, 6–8 May
Karani FA (forthcoming) Adult learning for poverty alleviation with reference to Kenya. In: Rule P, Preece J (eds) Adult learning in Africa: perspectives, practices and possibilities. Sense, Rotterdam
Kaziboni T (2017) Acquisition of agricultural knowledge and negotiation of gender power relations by women commercial farmers in Zimbabwe. PhD thesis, Durban University of Technology
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (2015) Economic survey. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, Nairobi
Lindeman E (1926) The meaning of adult education. Harvester House, Montreal
Livingstone DW (2001) Adults informal learning: definitions, findings, gaps and future research. In: WALL working paper no. 21. SSHRC Research Network New Approaches to lifelong learning, Centre for the study of education and work, Department of Sociology and Equity Studies in Education, Toronto. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.585.3940&rep=rep1&type=pdf. Accessed 21 Aug 2017
Livingstone DW (2006) Informal learning: conceptual distinctions and preliminary findings. http://tclearninglounge.org/robert/design-informal-science-practicum-WI13/readings/LIVINGSTONE-informal-learning-conceptual-distinctions.pdf. Accessed 31 Aug 2017
Mosuoe M (2016) Coping strategies and learning of Basotho women living with HIV and AIDS: a case study of a group of women belonging to Phelisanang Bophelong Association in the Leribe District. PhD Thesis, University of KwaZulu-Natal
Omolewa M (2009) Lifelong learning in Africa. In: Jarvis P (ed) The Routledge international handbook of lifelong learning. Routledge, Abingdon, pp 445–458
Preece J (2009) Lifelong learning and development: a southern perspective. Continuum, London
Preece J (2011) Introduction: the conceptual framework. In: Preece J (ed) Non-formal education, poverty reduction and life enhancement: a comparative study. Lightbooks, Gaborone, pp 1–16
Preece J (2015) Lifelong learning: its meaning and scope. In: Raditloaneng W, Chawawa M (eds) Lifelong learning for poverty eradication. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 3–8
Rogers A (2004) Non-formal education: flexible schooling or participatory education?. Kluwer, Hong Kong
Thakaso M (2017) Young adult understanding of citizen rights and responsibilities in the Lesotho context: implications for civic education. PhD Thesis, University of KwaZulu-Natal
Tikly L, Barrett AM (2013) Education quality and social justice in the global south. Routledge, Abingdon
Torres M (2003) Lifelong learning: a new momentum and a new opportunity for adult basic learning and education (ABLE) in the South. Adult Educ Dev Suppl 60:1–240
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (2006) Synergies between formal and non-formal education: an overview of good practices. UNESCO/UIE, Bonn
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (2009). World conference on education for sustainable development 31 March–2 April, Bonn, Germany. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0018/001887/188799e.pdf. Accessed 13 July 2010
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (2014). Teaching and learning. Achieving quality education for all: education for all global monitoring report 2013–2014. UNESCO, Paris
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (2015a) Rethinking education: towards a global common good http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002325/232555e.pdf. Accessed 20 July 2016
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (2015b) World Education Forum Education 2030. Towards inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all. Incheon, Republic of Korea, 19–22 May. https://en.unesco.org/world-education-forum-2015/5-key-themes/lifelong-learning. Accessed 18 Aug 2017
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (2015c) Regional overview: Sub-saharan Africa. EFA global monitoring report. http://en.unesco.org/gem-report/sites/gem-report/files/regional_overview_SSA_en.pdf. Accessed 3 Nov 2017
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (2015d) Incheon declaration and framework for action. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0024/002456/245656e.pdf. Accessed 18 Aug 2017
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (2016) Unpacking sustainable development goal 4 education 2030. GUIDE. Education 2030. http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0024/002463/246300E.pdf. Accessed 18 Aug 2017
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (2017) Education for sustainable development goals—learning objectives. https://www.unesco.de/fileadmin/medien/Dokumente/Bibliothek/unesco_education_for_sustainable_development_goals.pdf. Accessed 18 August 2017
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). UIL (2013) Second global review of adult learning and education (GRALE II). UNESCO UIL, Hamburg
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (UIL) (2016) Third global review of adult learning and education (GRALE III). UNESCO UIL, Hamburg
United Nations (UN) (2015). Sustainable development goals. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org. Accessed 18 Aug 2017
United Nations (UN) (2015a) https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg4
United Nations (UN) (2015b) http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/poverty/
United Nations (UN) (2015c) http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/hunger/
United Nations (UN) (2015d) http://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/health/
Walker M, Loots S (2016) Social citizenship formation at university: a South African case study. Compare 46(1):48–68
Yeaxlee BA (1929) Lifelong education: a sketch of the range and significance of the adult education movement. Cassell, London
Zeelen J, van der Linden J, Nampota D, Ngabirano M (eds) (2010) The burden of educational exclusion: understanding and challenging early school leaving in Africa. Sense, Rotterdam
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2020 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Karani, F.A., Preece, J. (2020). Lifelong Learning and the SDGs. In: Ramutsindela, M., Mickler, D. (eds) Africa and the Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainable Development Goals Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14857-7_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-14857-7_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-030-14856-0
Online ISBN: 978-3-030-14857-7
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)