EAEA Statement on PIAAC results

The European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA) welcomes the launch of the results of Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC) yesterday the 8th of October. PIAAC clearly demonstrates that Europe needs to invest in adult education - it is a loud wake-up call to Europe and the member states to start acting NOW.
EAEA hopes that the PIAAC results will lead to a European-wide debate on the skills and competences of adults, raise the awareness for and increase investment in adult learning. The assessment proves the requirement for continuous learning in Europe, underlining "a strong positive relationship between participation in adult education and skills proficiency". We need a ‘Learning Europe´ where everyone can and wants to participate in learning.
The PIAAC publication states that "While countries cannot change the past, policies designed to provide high-quality lifelong opportunities for learning can help to ensure that the adults of the future maintain their skills" (Skilled for life? Key Findings from the Survey of Adult Skills, p.13). Suite...