The situation of adult and youth education in the Argentine

Presents the design and present progress in the research project entitled "Structure of power, participation and education: a study of the situation of Adult and Youth Education in the context of neoconservatism, policies of adjustment and poverty", directed by María Teresa Sirvent. The objective of the research is to analyse the demand and supply of Adult and Youth Education in selected regions of the Argentine. Three regional research teams are engaged in the study. The purpose of the research is to describe and interpret the demand, to elaborate essential features for educational policy and pedagogical recommendations. The methodological approach combines the quantitative and qualitative with participative mechanisms. The development of the research process has allowed attention to be concentrated on the possibility of reproduction or of rupture in a) the situation of profound educational poverty (level of educational risk) in which 75% of the population over 15 years of age which has attended but no longer attends school finds itself and b) the principle of accumulative advance in education (referring to the fact that those who have most education, demand more education and make use of the opportunities created). The findings obtained also reveal the interaction of subjective and objective aspects of distinct life paths (family, work and social participation) which can account for educational decisions in addition to critical aspects in the formation of educators. In conclusion, contributions for an educational policy based on the perspective of lifelong education are presented.