Standardization of adult education in the Republic of Croatia

• Published in: AS. Andragoška spoznanja 2013-01, Vol.19 (1), p.20
• Main Authors: Klapan, Anita, Vrcelj, Sofija, Kušić, Siniša
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult education; Adults; Standardization
• ISSN: 1318-5160; 2350-4188
• DOI: 10.4312/as.19.1.20-27

In this study standardization of adult education in the Republic of Croatia has been analyzed. Although adult education has an adequate legal basis and support in this country, and there is a developed network of institutions which are intended exclusively for adult education and/or provide adult education, various difficulties appear. The most common assumption made in the process of adult education policy creation is that adults are a homogenous group, which is false. The category refers to the people aged from 15+ (unless involved in regular secondary education) to those of the so-called “third age”. The adults also differ by gender, which is not negligible when considering the needs of the unemployed, especially women. Gender validation is often neglected in the standardization of adult education. Education at all levels is not unaffected by the complex relations in globalization. This is clearly visible in the attempts to implement certain documents (declarations) in transition countries, which are trying to meet the standards of traditionally stable countries. The process of standardization, however, contains the danger of losing sight of the culture and social context of a particular country. Sensibility and the context a central question in (adult) education and require creating new strategies to bridge the differences between global policies and everyday practices.