A well-co-ordinated adult learning system will be essential if Slovenia is to meet its long-term development goals. Globalisation, technological progress and demographic change will all have transformational effects on life at work and beyond, amplifying the importance of getting adults’ skills right.
A wealth of OECD research shows that individuals, employers and society all benefit from adults having higher levels of skills. Slovenia has achieved significant improvements in student outcomes and tertiary attainment in recent decades. Yet many adults have only low levels of literacy and numeracy. Participation in adult learning remains below Slovenia’s targets, and is particularly low for low-skilled, unemployed and older adults, especially in small enterprises and certain sectors.
The hard work of economic recovery is now behind Slovenia, and awareness of the importance of adult skills and learning is growing. Slovenia’s leaders have a unique opportunity to strengthen co-operation on adult learning between central government, municipalities, social partners and other stakeholders, to contribute to a higher quality of work and life in Slovenia.