Reader’s Opinion | Combining work and studies does not replace adult education support

Government is starting a pilot project, the aim of which is to develop the coordination of work and studies (HS 25.9.). At the same time, the aim is to respond to the skills shortage in the social and health sector and in the education sector. The intention is to replace the end of adult education support by giving employees in certain labor shortage sectors the opportunity to develop their skills while working.

I work besides, the study piloting is not a substitute for the discontinued adult education support. The pilot project excludes those who will be hit hardest by the removal of adult education support. It does not offer alternatives for those who have to change fields due to changes in working life or workload.

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There is a need for a new adult education subsidy that secures a living for those in working life during their studies.

The system being piloted, in which employers receive compensation for the costs of studying, does not, like the adult education support, offer the employee a livelihood security that would enable them to focus on their studies. Unlike adult education support, which widely supported adult students and career changers, the piloted model is limited and serves those who remain in the same profession. Employers are hardly motivated to support their employees’ training in a new field. This reduces mobility in the labor market and leaves the opportunities for many employees to train in a new field rather weak.

An adult student securing a livelihood is important if we want to promote continuous learning and guarantee that even people with medium and low incomes have the opportunity to train and develop their skills regardless of the field and employer, if necessary full-time.

There is a need for a new adult education subsidy that secures a living for those in working life during their studies. We need a flexible form of support that promotes underrepresented groups in education, guides to raising the level of competence and supports even more flexibly the coordination of work and part-time study. The new adult education subsidy would also support those changing fields and would not tie the needs of competence development too much to the employer.

Elina Sojonen

leading expert, Akava

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