Exploring Challenges in Advancing Lifelong Learning in Basic Education: A Comparative Study of Formal and Non-Formal Institutions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63163/jpehss.v4i2.1311Keywords:
Lifelong Learning (LLL), Formal Education (FE), Nonformal Education (NFE) Social Challenges, Financial Challenges, Basic EducationAbstract
Lifelong learning is recognised over the globe. There is an increased realization that knowledge, skills, and competencies obtained through formal education are not sufficient to tackle the ever-increasing learning needs of learners in contemporary societies. Since Pakistan is facing lack of seriousness of the issues of adult education, and out of school children’s education. The need for time is to set up and expand lifelong learning to address the educational needs of out-of-school children and illiterate adults. Being flexible in nature, non-formal education can facilitate the education and training needs of many unprivileged segments of our society. Keeping in view this situation, this study was conceived to explore challenges that hinder to foster lifelong learning opportunities in basic education in formal and nonformal educational institutions. The population comprised on FE and NFE teachers of primary level. A total 240 teachers were randomly selected from these institutions which were based in Rawalpindi and Islamabad regions. Researcher collected data through self-developed questionnaire which was validate and pilot tested. Data was collected through personal contact and google docs. Results showed that financial and social challenges hinder lifelong learning to promote basic education. The study concluded that challenges are not sector specific rathe deep rooted and system-specific which needs to be addressed through dissemination of knowledge and devising a sound framework to overcome these.
References
Ailaan, A. (2014). 25 million broken promises: The crisis of Pakistan’s out-of-school children. Retrieved from http://www.alifailaan.pk/broken_promises
Andreev, I. (2022, February 17). Valamis. Retrieved from https://www.valamis.com/hub/lifelong-learning
Arsakhanova, Z. A., & Dolgova, A. N. (2025). Lifelong learning as a basis for renewal and growth of human capital in the era of technological transformations. Economic and Innovation Journal, 21(12). https://doi.org/10.36871/ek.up.p.r.2025.12.21.001
Atchoarena, D., Hite, S.J. (2001). Lifelong Learning Policies in Low Development Contexts: An African Perspective. In: Aspin, D., Chapman, J., Hatton, M., Sawano, Y. (eds) International Handbook of Lifelong Learning. Springer International Handbooks of Education, vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-010-0916-4_13
Bari, F. (2019). Out of school, out of sight. Retrieved from https://www.dawn.com/news/149625
Drewery, D. W., Sproule, R., & Pretti, T. J. (2020). Lifelong learning mindset and career success: evidence from the field of accounting and finance. Higher Education, Skills and Work-based Learning, 10(3), 567–580. https://doi.org/10.1108/HESWBL-03-2019-0041.
Gunduz, A. Y. (2023). The Importance of Investigating Students’ Lifelong Learning Levels and Perceptions of 21st-Century Skills. International e-Journal of Educational Studies, 7(15), 788–796. https://doi.org/10.31458/iejes.1346220
Hodgkinson-Williams, C., & Arinto, P. (2017). Adoption and impact of OER in the Global South. African Minds. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1005330
James, C. (2025). Technology and Lifelong Learning. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/398934467_Technology_and_Lifelong_Learning
Mahmood, N., Malik, R. (2010). International Encyclopedia of Education, Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/referencework/9780080448947/international-encyclopedia-of-education
Malik, S., & Rafiq, T. (2024). Effectiveness and Challenges of Non-Formal Education Programs in Punjab. iRASD Journal of Educational Research, 5(1), 42-52. https://doi.org/10.52131/jer.2024.v5i1.2511
Mangion, R. (2016). Community Radio Broadcasting and Adult Education: Case Study-Using Community Radio for Non-Formal Education. Retrieved from https://epale.ec.europa.eu/en/blog/community-radio-broadcasting-and-adult-education-case-study-using-community-radio-non-formal
Manolete. (2025, May). Edusign.com. Retrieved from https://edusign.com/blog/lifelong-learning-how-technology-is-shaping-this-concept/
Mosweunyane, D., & Molosi-France, K. (2017). Lifelong learning for sustainable development in the developing world. International Journal of Academic Research in Progressive Education and Development, 6(4), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARPED/v6-i4/3251
Oltean, M.-D., Appiah-Kubi, E., & Baltador, L. A. (2025). Reimagining education for growth: Linking lifelong learning, inclusion, and public investment to economic performance. Education Sciences, 16(1), 27. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci16010027
Pakistan Economic Survey (2025). Chapter 10 Education. https://finance.gov.pk/survey/chapter_24/10_education.pdf
Reliefweb. (2025, 19 Jun). Education spending in Pakistan hits new low with more than one in three children out of school – Save the Children https://reliefweb.int/report/pakistan/education-spending-pakistan-hits-new-low-more-one-three-children-out-school-save-children
Statista, (2020). Adult literacy rate from 2014-2017. Retrieved from https://www.statista.com/statistics/572781/literacy-rate-in-pakistan/
Thwe, W. P., & Kálmán, A. (2023). Lifelong learning in the educational setting: A systematic literature review. Asia-Pacific Education Researcher. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40299-023-00738-w
UNESCO. (2008). EFA Global Monitoring Report: Overcoming inequality – why governance matters, Paris
UNESCO. (2013). Education Sector Technical Notes Literacy and Non-Formal Education. Retrieved from https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000222125
UNESCO. (2014) EFA Global Monitoring Report-Teaching and learning: Achieving quality for all. Paris: UNESCO.
UNESCO. (2020). Learning through television and radio in the time of COVID-19. Retrieved from https://en.unesco.org/news/learning-through-radio-and-television-time-covid-19
UNESCO. (2025). Lifelong learning. https://www.unesco.org/en/query-list/l/lifelong-learning#:~:text=Lifelong%20learning%20is%20the%20continuous,their%20personal%20and%20professional%20growth.
UNICEF. (2026). Education Giving every child the right to education. https://www.unicef.org/pakistan/education
Zawacki-Richter, O., & Qayyum, A. (2019). Open and distance education in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-5787-9