State of play (excerpt from the last annual National Report on validtion of Non-formal and informal learning)
In Latvia there is not yet a unified management and monitoring system of Lifelong learning and APEL created. Higher education establishments are active in LLL provision but each of them offers different forms and content of continuing education. Prior education and work experience so far has not been recognized, not to speak about evaluation, validation, accreditation and credit transfer. The pressure to increase the provision of continuing education has been growing. Partnership among the HE institutions in Latvia has not been strong enough. National Qualifications Framework is ready since 2005 but it is not yet approved by the Government. There is no legislation to back up these new tendencies in Latvian higher education area. National Government at the time being is trying to stop the Lifelong learning development processes due to the shortage of funding. Latvian non-formal adult education centres are very weak; they lack local governments’ support because of the reform of Latvian administrative system of local governments which will be finished in the summer of 2009.
The policy planning documents under the competence of the Ministry of Education and Science are developed but only one has been accepted the Government: “Basic Guidelines of Lifelong Learning Policy for 2007–2013”. It was developed by the Ministry of Education and Science, the Latvian Adult Education Association, four regional development agencies and Riga, the Capital. However, this Policy document does not include APEL / VNF-IFL and sources of funding of LLL and APEL. National programme “Development of Lifelong Learning Strategy” is still under development. The process of its development is lead by the Ministry of Regional Development and Local Governments and connected to the National Development Plan. A Working group meets once a month and works on the Strategy. Vidzeme University College has a representative in the Working group. Lifelong learning management system and APEL are the 2 main issues.
All planning documents are developed by the Ministry of Education and Science in cooperation with all the actors involved in adult education “Basic Guidelines of Lifelong Learning Policy for 2007–2013” were developed in cooperation with representatives from the Adult and Vocational Education Association, Latvian Trade Union of Education and Science Workers, Latvian Employers’ Confederation, Latvian Association of Municipalities, Latvian Rectors’ Council, Council of Higher Education, Higher education institutions, Latvian Teachers’ Council. The process is very slow. It is more active at the local and institutional (Universities, adult education centres, local governments) level. There are regional and local LLL strategies developed (4 regions and Riga). However, during the development process, there was little coordination between the regions, so at the time being we have 5 quite different regional strategies.
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