Challenges: More attention to digital divide
The adult education sector in France was significantly affected by the COVID-19 crisis. The health crisis accentuated the disparities in terms of access to training for the most disadvantaged and the least qualified, in particular those who cannot use digital distance learning.
The government issued new training projects to push for digital training and encourage trainers to become more competent in e-learning. As a response to the crisis, the state will support organisations whose trainers were unemployed during the confinement. Although civil society welcomes this initiative, they are also aware that it does not account for rent, insurance costs and other costs. Hence, many adult education providers are still facing the threat of closures and learners are left behind, not being able to return to their training centres.
The focus for the next year will be specific target groups, such as migrants and young people living in the countryside. Speaking out a recommendation to the French government, La Ligue believes that large companies should not provide education because instead of focusing on local realities, they have market driven objectives. Hence, it is important to subsidise and rely on local associations for adult education who know their territory and the people who live there.