Southern-European signposts for critical popular adult education: Italy, Portugal and Spain

Abstract

This paper focuses on three Southern European countries, Italy, Portugal and Spain, to explore examples of projects that provide signposts for a critical popular education that contributes to an ongoing democratic process -one whereby citizens are developed as social actors and members of a collectivity rather than simply passive producers/consumers. This approach would serve as an alternative to the traditional 'top-down' and current hegemonic economy-oriented discourses. In so doing, the paper seeks to redress an imbalance in the English language adult education and learning literature that often overlooks alternative discourses to the mainstream on and from this part of the world.

Ageing in Southern Europe. Emerging Perspectives and Challenges for Sociology

“…Regarding the first element, the predominance of English in AE theories and practices has led to the exclusion of many contributors from Southern European countries (Macedo, Dendrinos and Gounari, 2003;Guimaraes, Lucio-Villegas and Mayo, 2018). Aligned with this idea, Borg and Mayo (2008) also denounce the international literature on AE for being dominated by ideas and experiences from Northern and Central Europe, and for consequently being those that tend to be incorporated in European AE policies, as a result silencing movements and local initiatives on AE that could have brought visibility to groups traditionally excluded by neoliberal and globalising dynamics, including the elderly, women and migrants.…”

“…In this sense, influenced by these theories, Formosa (2000Formosa ( , 2007, Borg and Mayo (2008) and Guimaraes, Lucio-Villegas and Mayo (2018) criticise the aforementioned "top-down" vision and current hegemonic economy-oriented discourses that remain prevalent in European AE theories. The ideas of flexibility, mobility, job-related counselling and basic employment-related skills are essential in European documents on AE policies.…”

Adult Education in a Transnational Space: The Status of Adult Education in Norway and Spain

“…For instance, the rates of early school leavers in 2015 were 24.9% in Andalusia, 18.8% in Catalonia, and 24.5% in Extremadura, a poor region. However, the rate was 10.8% in Navarra, one of the richest regions in Spain (Guimaraes et al, 2018).…”

“…On the other hand, there is a lack of training focused on specific teaching approaches for adults. The psychology of the adult and specific teaching methodologies used in adult learning are not seen as important elements of teacher training in most faculties of education (Guimaraes et al, 2018).…”

“…Finally, there is a lack of political consensus about the fundamental building blocks of the educational system in Spain (Guimaraes et al, 2018). Because the education system is a partisan battlefield, new governments tend to introduce new educational laws that lead to disruption and a lack of stability during practical implementation.…”