The Nationalist Party has criticised the education authorities for not taking part in a  country study by the European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA).

"While some action is being taken, this is surely not enough. The Maltese government needs to give more attention and priority to adult learning, ensuring it is delivered in innovative ways that truly entice people to renew their skills or gain more skills," the shadow minister for education, Therese Comodino Cachia said.

She observed that Malta has a relatively high proportion of the adult population that has not completed lower secondary education and around 60% of adults who did not complete upper secondary education.

Lifelong learning could start to refamiliarise those who were not reached by the formal education system with learning, thereby enhancing their life skills as well as making them more active citizens in the social, political and economic sectors, she said.

"Adult education can certainly help to address skills mismatch thereby enhancing the employability of low-skilled or low-educated learners as well as address early school leavers," she said.

Dr Comodini Cachia made her comments when she hosted a debate entitled Adult Education: achievements and challenges ahead, held at the European Parliament.

"We need to devise lifelong learning measures that address people's needs. If we fail to do this we would be guilty of increasing differences in society, poverty as well as marginalisation" commented Dr Comodini Cachia.