Resumen de La efectividad de la educación para adultos en Grecia en tiempos de crisis y globalización: Un estudio de caso. el municipio de El Pireo
Athanasia Ntafou
Due to the current economic and social crisis that exists and now there is less money, it is an important challenge to reflect on the role and responsibilities of adult education, as evidenced by the degree of satisfaction of the participating citizens. For the implementation of the research, the sample research method was chosen using an anonymous questionnaire with closed questions. The SPSS statistical methodology was applied to examine the satisfaction of the participating citizens in the adult education courses of the Greek municipalities, having as a case study the Municipality with the largest Greek port. For the selection of the sample of adult students of the Municipality, the file of adult learners of the Lifelong Learning Center of the Municipality was used. 1,000 adult citizens participated in the survey.
The initial research hypothesis states that municipal effectiveness in adult education has been affected by the current economic and health crisis. The results of the survey showed that although adult education was affected by the crisis that the country went through, like the whole world, adult education in municipalities has a positive contribution to adult learners, as adults recognized adult education as an important and necessary element in their life. In addition, the research examined the barriers faced by adult learners, evaluated municipal adult education according to the results and suggested ways to make adult education more effective.
The first chapter, the introductory chapter, the main purpose of the present research, the research objectives and the contribution of the research to knowledge are presented. This is followed by the second chapter which focuses on the theoretical documentation by reviewing the previous literature. In addition, the chapter examines the key roles of adult education and adult learning, continues with the principles, theories and styles of adult education, its purpose and perspectives, its role and how it contributes to the psychological development of adults, the journey from the beginning of education and Plato's theory of education to the present day and the introduction of andragogy by Malcolm Knowles to emphasize adults and their education. Then, the principles of effective adult education, as well as methods and approaches for effective adult education, are presented. In addition, the chapter includes an analysis of the role of the adult educator and the challenges he faces in his work and the role of the adult learner citing ways to be motivated to learn. The chapter ends by identifying barriers to adult learning and suggesting ways to overcome them. After all the related issues with adult education have been completed, the third chapter presents us with the Greek state and the Greek public sector. We know issues about the functioning of the Greek state and its governance sectors, the central sector, the state regional sector and the Greek local self-government with its two levels, the regions and the municipalities. Next are the public enterprises and organizations and finally the independent Greek administrative authorities are mentioned. The chapter continues with reference to the Greek economic context, the relationship between the state, globalization and the global recession, as well as the European Union's adult education policy. The chapter ends with a historical reference to Greek adult education and finally to its current situation. The fourth chapter introduces us to the case study Municipality, the Municipality of Piraeus, which is the largest port in Greece and the third largest Municipality in terms of population. First we get to know the city of Piraeus and its history from ancient times to the present with its main attractions. Next we learn about the organization of the services of the Municipality of Piraeus and then the providers of the Municipality for adult education. The chapter concludes with information on the Lifelong Learning Center of the Municipality of Piraeus, which is the main provider of adult education. The fifth chapter deals with the research methodology of the study. Theoretical and quantitative researches are described in detail. For the present research, the statistical analysis using SPSS was chosen. The data for the analysis was obtained through the responses to a questionnaire that was personally administered to the 1000 adult learners. The research procedure follows where each step of the research process is presented. The chapter continues with the analysis of the results, the findings by section of the questionnaire and the discussion of the results where it is discussed how the findings answered the research questions of the study and finally, the limitations of the research are mentioned. The last, sixth chapter, is the concluding chapter where, in addition to the general conclusions, the quality of the primary adult education provided is evaluated, and finally paths are proposed for a more effective adult education.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of adult education in Greek Municipalities through the satisfaction of adult learners. Adult education plays an important role not only in renewing the skills of adults for employment but mainly in supporting them to improve their sociability, physical and mental well-being. Adult education in Greece is provided by the Lifelong Learning Centers of the Municipalities in collaboration with the Youth and Lifelong Learning Foundation of the Ministry of Education. General adult education programs are funded by the European Union and provide general knowledge about the economy, new technologies, social and communication skills, foreign languages, parent counselling, culture, Greek language for immigrants and programs for vulnerable groups. Attendance is free and face-to-face in the classrooms of the Lifelong Learning Centers.
The selection of 1000 adult learners was made with the aim of providing rich data for the adult education of the Municipality of Piraeus. The participants were adult citizens, aged 20-65, who had participated or participated during the period of this research in adult education programs of the Lifelong Learning Center of the municipality of Piraeus. An anonymous questionnaire with closed questions was selected for the research. The research was conducted using the SPSS statistical method. The results of the survey showed that the satisfaction of the adult participants was overall and evident in all the departments covered by the survey. Satisfaction was many times more than negative responses regardless of gender, age or educational level of the participants. The results demonstrate the positive impact that adult education had on the lives of the participants and highlight the great importance of adult education and the need for its further strengthening. Improving the satisfaction of adult learners and therefore improving adult education can be achieved by changes initially at government level by implementing long-term planning with foresight for future crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and creating incentives for learning. Then the change must be made at the level of adult educators with a constant dialogue with their adult students and the assessment of their needs making the best possible use of the little time that their adult students try to devote to the lesson. Finally, the change must also take place at the level of adult learners with active participation in the course without creating problems and obstacles.
