The issue of non-formal adult education in the Czech Republic

Abstract

This study deals with the issue of non-formal education in the Czech Republic. In this regard, it focuses on the participation of adults in non-formal education in and outside of a workplace and on the conditioning factors of their participation. For this purpose, the study uses a quantitative research strategy through which the data for the representative sample of adults were collected (N = 1,022). The study found that the participation rate of the adult population in non-formal education in the Czech Republic is 29%, where 33% of adults do participate in non-formal education in the workplace and only 17% of adults participate outside of the workplace. The main factors affecting the participation of local inhabitants in education are age and socioeconomic status. The higher the status is, the higher the participation is. The current situation in the Czech Republic differs from other countries because of the comparatively large number of self-employed people in the Czech Republic. On the other hand, it shares with other countries a similar structure of people excluded from educational activities.