GRUNDTVIG LEARNING PARTNERSHIP Lordelo, Portugal – February 2010 Finding innovative ways of defining and measuring Quality in Adult Education Provision of socially and economically disadvantage Adult Learners

Portuguese Educational System: 3 to 5 years old………………………..Preschool (3 years) 6 to 9 years old – 1 st cycle 10 to 11 years old – 2 nd cycle …Basic Level (9 years) 12 to 14 years old – 3 rd cycle 15 to 17 years old……………………..Secondary Level (12 years) 18 to 23 years old……………………..University Finding innovative ways of defining and measuring Quality in Adult Education Provision of socially and economically disadvantage Adult Learners

Compulsory education of the Partnership countries: Finding innovative ways of defining and measuring Quality in Adult Education Provision of socially and economically disadvantage Adult Learners COUTRYYEARS COMPULSORY EDUCATION (years) AGES DROPOUT RATE Austria2006/ ,9% Germany2006/ ,7% Ireland2005/ ,5% Lithuania2006/ ,7% Portugal 2007/ /10* – ,3% --- U. Kingdom2007/ % * For the students who are beginning the 3 rd cycle. Source: Eurostat, 2008.

Portuguese workforce by educational level: - Without any level…………………………... 6 % - 1 st cycle (4 years)…………………………. 30 % - 2 nd cycle (6 years)………………………… 18 % - 3 rd cycle (9 years)……………………… % - Secondary level (12 years)…………….. 16 % - Higher education…………………… % 100 % Source: General Census of Population, 2001 Finding innovative ways of defining and measuring Quality in Adult Education Provision of socially and economically disadvantage Adult Learners 48 %

Adult Education in Portugal – some challenges: To promote the secondary level (12 years), as the minimum level of education; Why? (two important reasons) 1. Portugal is one of the EU countries where the workforce has the lowest qualifications ; 2. Portugal is one of the EU countries with the higher Dropout Rate. Finding innovative ways of defining and measuring Quality in Adult Education Provision of socially and economically disadvantage Adult Learners

Adult Education in Portugal (some changes...): Number of enrolments in Secondary level: Finding innovative ways of defining and measuring Quality in Adult Education Provision of socially and economically disadvantage Adult Learners 2005/062006/072007/082008/09 YOUNG ADULTS Source: Ministry of Education, Office of Statistics and Education Planning.

CFPIMM in Adult Education and Vocational Training: Finding innovative ways of defining and measuring Quality in Adult Education Provision of socially and economically disadvantage Adult Learners Further Training (technological and general programmes, for example, Computer Aided Design and English) – always...; Recognition, Validation and Certification of Competences (Basic Level and Secondary level) – since 2006; Education and Training Courses (Basic Level and Secondary Level) – since 2008.