Since the demand for non-formal education and lifelong learning is increasing,
effective strategies will have to be adopted. Integrating programmes of all
agencies in the operational areas will be of paramount importance. Literacy is a
building block of lifelong learning and therefore it should form an important
component of all programmes. Strong partnerships are needed for providing
networks of lifelong learning, from the local level to the international level. The
quality of lifelong learning will depend on the effective training of personnel,
and engaging all stakeholders in all aspects of the programmes from production
of learning material, to research and curriculum planning. More work is
required in the areas of measuring competencies and designing instruments for
testing them. Competency based and curriculum-based assessments should be
examined to ensure high standards are maintained. Technology and science
literacy need to be integrated into the new curriculum structure to prepare adults
and young children to be capable to live in a global society. Local leaders and
authorities as well as rural people need to be motivated and encouraged to seek
education and made aware of the importance of non-formal education and
lifelong learning for improving working and living conditions. Local people will
have to take the management of educational programmes into their own hands to
promote the ownership of the programmes by the community. The government
should reaffirm its commitment to the policy of non-formal education and
lifelong education and achieve the objectives of education for all by the year
2015 with a sufficient budget allocated for lifelong education. The purpose of
lifelong learning should be to strengthen family capacity, child development and
youth leadership. These are building blocks for achieving all other development
goals.