Why does the world need lifelong learners?
Lifelong learning is thought to be the key to personal success, but what does it mean for the global population in general? Why does the world need lifelong learners?
Lifelong learners are individuals who continue learning after their school education, either for personal enjoyment or development, or in a professional capacity, often to gain employment or to further their employability.
These older learners can be an adult interested in learning a new language for the joy of better understanding a different culture, or someone working in the financial sector, passing industry exams to improve their chances of promotion.
The personal benefits will help individuals in many ways including:
- gaining employment
- being successful at work
- achieving promotion in the workplace
- attaining a greater financial income
- creating a pathway to a new career
- feeling engaged and inspired
- having a better understanding of the world
- achieving happiness & success
- supporting good mental health
Clearly some of the main benefits lifelong learning provides to adult learners are greater employability and a sense of personal development. So when a passion for learning is instilled in a child during its Early Years of education, they can develop the skills and interest to continue learning not only throughout school, but also for many years afterwards.
In every sense lifelong learning is thought to be the key to personal success, but what does it mean for the global population in general? Why does the world need lifelong learners?
Business
When an employee continues to study and learn, either for professional or personal reasons, a company will automatically benefit. The workplace normally requires an employee to continue learning on an ongoing basis during normal working conditions as new clients are met, or necessary new tasks are undertaken to complete the job in hand.
When workers continue with learning, a business will always profit, and when they take courses and qualifications to greatly improve their knowledge or skills, the benefits increase as the employee develops greater abilities.
Employers who encourage staff to undertake learning for personal reasons will see a happier, motivated and more fulfilled workforce in the office, on the farm or factory floor.
Lifelong learning can essentially help companies to change, improve and transform operations to become more competitive and efficient, and it also helps immensely with employee management.
Governments
A government interested in supporting learning in adult life will aid a country’s population in remarkably positive ways. The pursuit of knowledge in later life helps to maintain a positive attitude in human beings, which will greatly assist in delaying the onset of dependency for the older generation.
Lifelong learning also has a distinct role in creating communities that are inclusive and open to issues of equality in gender, race and religion. When learning improves the wellbeing of an individual the community around them benefits also.
Environmental
When individuals and communities take an interest in environmental issues then the act of learning will have a fundamental and positive effect on our environment. When we enhance our understanding of the earth, our climate, sustainability issues, other species and world resources, we are able to change our behaviour for the benefit of the environment and the global population.
Learning about how certain activities can affect and endanger ecosystems can essentially change human behaviour to help save our planet and improve our quality of life.
““We aim to support all our children to become flourishing, confident, lifelong learners who enjoy a broad range of interests”.”
Carl Hutson – Head of School
St. Andrews International School S107
Teaching children to become lifelong learners from their first day of school!
At St. Andrews S107 we start teaching children to become lifelong learners from their first steps into Early Years education. This nursery programme reflects the principles that we believe every child is a competent learner from birth, who can be resilient, capable, confident and self-assured.
Within the walls of our Early Childhood centre there exists a strong community feel and a nurturing and inclusive environment. We immediately encourage our young learners to develop positive relationships and the partnership teachers have with our parents is crucial to their learning development.
Our dedicated nursery centre provides both indoor and outdoor learning spaces where children can embrace a ‘home away from home’ with plenty of room to grow. The Early Years environment fosters a safe, happy and exciting experience for yany child that builds a positive attitude to learning from their very first day of school.
Children attending St. Andrews S107 Early Years classes work towards achieving the Early Learning Goals in three prime fields of learning, centred around four specific subject areas:
- Personal, Social and Emotional Development
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
The 4 specific areas are:
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the world
- Expressive Art and Design
Contact St. Andrews Sukhumvit 107 today!
If you want to find out more about St. Andrews Sukhumvit 107’s Early Years learning programme and our general teaching practices, then contact us today to arrange a meeting with our Leadership Team and a tour of the school campus.
Tel: +66 (0) 2393 3883 Email: sukhumvit@standrews-schools.com
