Adult education is commonly referred to as the practice of teaching and educating adults.
There still exists a common notion that adult learning is education for the illiterate.
However, adult learning is beyond this. It encompasses the training required to function
productively and the skills for lifelong learning. This learning may not necessarily take
place in a formal classroom but at the workplace, in the community, at home, in
cyberspace, in the media, etc. Educating adults differs from educating children in several
ways. One of the most important differences is that adults have accumulated knowledge
and experiences that can add or hinder the learning experience. Adults frequently apply
their knowledge in a practical fashion to learn effectively. They must have a reasonable
expectation that the knowledge recently gained will help them further their goals.
An adult in St. Lucia is defined as a person who is 18 years of age or older. Adults who
are between the ages of 18 and 35 years are also categorized as “youth” in St. Lucia. This
report reviews adult education and learning in St. Lucia from 1997 to the present and was
prepared through several consultations with Ministry of Education officials, officials
from line ministries, adult education providers and coordinators, educators and
employers. These consultations were of various types including, meetings, face-to-face
and telephone interviews.
The development and provision of adult learning in St. Lucia is partnered by government
ministries, trade unions, tertiary institutions, private providers, employers and distant
education providers. Chapters One and Two of this report provide a detailed list of some
of the adult learning and education providers in St. Lucia.
Since CONFINTEA V in 1997, St. Lucia has made great strides in fulfilling the
commitments towards the development of adult learning as highlighted under the ten
thematic headings agreed upon at Hamburg. These achievements are summarized below.