Education for all movement
Education is considered as a birth right in all developed countries. So is the case in many developing countries too. Unfortunately, many underdeveloped countries and even some developing countries do not have a concrete plan to provide education for all their respective citizens. In some countries, in spite of the existence of education plans, it is not completely implemented for the lack of resources, funds and even logistical reasons. As a means of help to such countries and also as a means of help to their respective governments, the UNESCO launched an ambitious global movement called “Education for all”. The aim of this movement is to eradicate illiteracy, all across the world by the end of 2015. The movement’s vision is to provide basic education for all children, adolescents and adults, with the help of governments, educational institutions and various other agencies. The Education for all movement was launched amid much fanfare and over 150 countries of the world sent their representatives to the first conference held in Jomtien, Thailand. In this conference a six point implementation plan was accepted by all participating representatives. It was also agreed to uniform-ize basic education, across all countries. They also had a 10 year target in which the aim was to reduce overall illiteracy drastically.
The Education for all movement reconvened in a conference at Dakar, Senegal, in the year 2000. Ten years after the launch, a performance review was conducted. It was understood that most of the countries were lagging behind the aggressive goals that were set in the year 1990. After taking stock of the situation, a new framework of measurable goals was decided upon for implementation. In addition to the previously identified goals, newer ones like gender equality in education, compulsory primary education, etc, were added. All participating countries reaffirmed their commitment and accepted UNESCO’s Education for all movement as the lead organization that will monitor and supervise the entire movement. The goal date of 2015 for eradication of illiteracy all over the world was accepted. It was also decided that the framework rules would be fast tracked into implementation. Today, almost 12 years after the second conference and three years from the deadline, it is estimated that not even 50% of the goals have been achieved. It is also understood that it is highly unlikely that the goals would be met before the deadline. However, the initiative called Education for all has already achieved tremendous success in developing and underdeveloped countries, many of whose citizens might never have had an opportunity to become literate otherwise.
The importance of education degree and its allied continuing education courses
While pursuing education degree, students will also need to opt for continuous education courses, which can stand them in good stead when they reach employable age. Usually, students consider the completion of a degree is enough for them to secure a good job. The reality is far from this perception because the students are no longer competing at a national level for the available jobs; they are competing with international students for the limited number of jobs that are available. A few decades ago, the importance and relevance of a degree from a reputed institution was not so great when it came to employment. Employers were willing to take a bet with non degree holders but not anymore. Other countries in the world have a far more rigid education systems and the value placed on degree education in these countries have enabled them to produce highly qualified and highly competent workforce of degree educated people. Employers have also taken note of this fact and are willing to take these people from other countries that to fulfill their requirements. To cap it all, this work force also works out extremely economical for the employers because they can be hired only for a fraction of the wages that the indigenous work force demands. The only way to beat this trend is by equipping oneself with a degree and a host load of allied continuing education courses. Degree education has almost become a mandatory requirement for all types of jobs – technical and non technical. Apart from this, employers also prefer to take in candidates who have invested their time to sharpen and enhance their skills by opting for relevant continuing education courses. Gone are the days when continuing education courses were fillers or credit earners for students. They have now become a benchmark of scrutiny for all kinds of jobs. The only way local people can overcome the competition from highly qualified and low cost foreign work force is by increasing their individual competencies and displaying them through their education degree and allied courses. Planning the education degree and the other relevant courses is always important but nowadays, this importance has increased to an extent that it can influence the making or breaking of the students’ careers. The good news is that most of the employers are still willing to take in local work force, in spite of the higher wages but what they are not willing to compromise is the quality of this work force. They will take in local people as long as they are equally qualified and competent. So, the onus is on the students to equip themselves with more than an education degree; they will have to go the extra step of improving their competency by opting for continuing education courses.
The benefits of distance education for adult students
Distance education is not a recent phenomenon or development in the realm of education. Any universities and institutions have been offering distance education for many decades. The number of students continuing their education through distance education and its hybrid varieties has only increased in the recent years. Of late, after the onset of global recession, the enrollment numbers for degree and non degree distance education programs have risen exponentially. Knowledge gained through education and knowledge improvement through enhancement courses have become the benchmarks of assessment for most of the employers. People who have not had the opportunity to complete or pursue advanced levels of education are under a serious threat of not being employable n the present times. In spite of real life work experience, these people are getting overtaken by qualified candidates. The best way for such people to overcome their predicament is by opting for distance education programs. There is no dearth in the numbers of institutions, colleges and universities that offer distance education; almost all of them have such programs. People will have to identify the right type of course/degree that matches their existing skill sets and knowledge and enroll themselves for it. They will also need to identify and select the right institution through which they will complete their distance education.
When it comes to selecting the institution, people will have to be willing to invest some time and effort in researching all the available options to them. Apart from electing the relevant courses, which can further their employability, people will also need to verify the credentials of the institution that is offering the distance education course. There are many institutions with lesser and sometimes even disreputable credentials that offer these courses. Not only are the courses offered by such institutions unrecognized, people who enroll themselves for such courses stand to lose, time, money and effort at the end of it all. Usually, the list of accredited and recognized institutions, which are eligible to offer distance education courses, is published by the respective governments. People will have to stick to a choice within this list, to safeguard themselves against duplicity. Apart from this step, people will also need to broaden their scope of knowledge and expertise. Distance education is an ideal platform to improve upon the knowledge by opting for various courses and even degrees that ensure career progression. This is apart from increasing their core competencies; people will have to opt for relevant non core courses, which can enhance their career progression.