Lifelong Learning: Right and Benefit, Duty and Responsibility

The purpose of this article is to present the issue of 'lifelong learning' to public discussion, from the aspects of right and duty and the benefit and the responsibility; and to promote progression towards a national policy in this field. In the early 21st century, in the era of information and knowledge, the all encompassing definition of 'lifelong learning' seems to be a central motif in the micro level of the lives of the individual and the citizens, and in the macro level of the existence of the state and society. The UNESCO report on education in the dawn of the 21st century, states that 'the concept of lifelong learning seems to be one of the key elements to the 21st century...it provides solutions for the challenges set by the rapidly changing world' (Delrs, p.21). On the basis of this concept, the report states that 'the committee is adamant in its position that education is a public product that must be accessible to all (p.27). On this matter, the committee points out that the role of the public authorities is that: 'they must set policy guidelines...they are the ones who must outline the path, mold the foundations of the system, propel its main resources towards this aim, and adjust the system to the current reality... all the choices in any of the cases will be done on the basis of equal