Recognizing Non-Formal Education

WAGGGS believes that non-formal education is an important way for young people, particularly girls and young women, to develop the skills and attitudes they need to play an active role in society.  Non-formal education programmes enable young people to develop decision making and leadership skills; teamwork; conflict resolution and other people skills; and enable them to become committed, autonomous, responsible and supportive young people who will work with others 'to build a better world'

Many youth organizations like WAGGGS are working for the political and social recognition on non-formal education, so that the values, skills and competences gained by our members are acknowledged when they are searching for employment; and by national and local governments, so the contribution of youth organizations to the development of young people as active and participatory citizens is supported.

The White Paper on Youth Policy, the European Youth Pact, and most recently, the European Council Resolution on Recognition of Non-Formal and Informal Learning in the Field of Youth all recognise the important role of non-formal education, but as Member States can implement these policies in their own ways, there are different levels of recognition in different EU countries.  Youth organizations also have diferent opinions on how non-formal education should be recognized; and now the  quality of the programmes they provide should be assessed.

How has the Europe Region WAGGGS been advocating on the issue?

The Europe Region WAGGGS has been working for many years on the recognition of non-formal education, often in partnership with other members of the European Youth Forum and the Advisory Council of the Council of Europe, for example contributing to Youth Forum position papers and participating in the development of the European Portfolio for Youth Workers and  Youth Leaders - an initiative of the Council of Europe to help young people identify, assess and describe the competencies they have acquired as a result of participating in non-formal education programmes.

Girl Guide and Girl Scout Associations in Europe have also advocated for the recognition of non-formal education in different ways by:

• Developing alliances with other NGOs providing non-formal education programmes, to take joint lobby action towards the government and organize events to promote non-formal education programmes
• Working with other educational organizations to integrate their system of awards for adult leaders into a national recognition system
• Informing employers about the skills and experience young people gain from Girl Guiding/Girl Scouting and how these can be transferred to the workplace.