Adult Learning in the 1990s: The population education debate

Abstract

Links between education and population include the facts that women with increased literacy decrease their fertility and that countries with higher population growth rates produce more illiterate people. Possible reasons for the fertility-reducing effect of female education include the older marriage age of educated women the increased income-generating potential of educated girls and women that increases their status the increased self-esteem of educated girls and the awareness among educated females of the health implications of large families and of family planning options. In 1994 the International Conference on Population and Development highlighted the importance of education as it emphasized reproductive rights and womens empowerment through education. Recognition of the right to learn provides a framework for the rights approach to population education. The concept of the right to learn also has implications for adult learners because it acknowledges the right to be recognized and to have experiences and competencies validated. Gender analysis plays an important role in population education and the notion of lifelong learning has implications for changing gender relations as stereotypes are challenged. Recently the importance of involving men in population education and reconsideration of gender roles has been recognized. In the 21st century education and training will be less important than lifelong learning to know to do to live together and to be. Population education will be an integral part of this process and will be changed by it.