She specifically emphasized the need for research in the relationship between Adult Basic Education program operations and learner progress. Most of the discussion centered on classroom-based programs. As life expectancy rises in OECD countries, older adults who are in their final job or retired, are a large and, in most countries, growing share of the total population. Recent surveys have substantiated the fact that low levels of literacy are a significant problem for a large portion of the older adult populations. Data from most OECD countries indicate that the participation rate of adults in education and training is lower for older workers, and there is a sharp decline after age 55.
Employers appear to be reluctant to invest in the education and training of older workers.
As often noted in the literature, aging persons, as well as society as a whole, will benefit if older adults are valued as sources of wisdom and experience and perceived as vital and productive individuals who continue to learn, grow, and contribute throughout their later lives. This workshop focused on how learning changes as adults age. The moderator, Ladislav Cerych of the Czech Republic, directed the discussion to the learning needs of a rapidly growing number of older adults. Ohsako pointed out the relationships between the increase in adult participation in learning programs and the Japanese government's budget. This project often builds projects for the elderly on various other volunteer projects.