EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING – FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLE OF A NEW PARADIGM

Globalisation and the knowledge-based society generate multiple challenges and opportunities with respect to initial education for all and continuing training of labour force. The learning paradigm changes with respect to contents and amplitude of the learning process, and mainly its interconnection elements, their learning mechanisms and financial support. Lifelong learning has multiple functions: adjusting demand and supply of competencies on labour market, increasing the volume and share of employment, increasing productivity and competitiveness on the internal and external market, participation to community life, strengthening economic and social cohesion, active European citizenship. With respect to these exigencies, LLL in Romania – under its most diverse aspects – is yet far from the standards reached in developed countries. A strategy is necessary in the field with well-defined competencies and responsibilities of various actors, and their behaviours in accordance with the demands of the third millennium.