Since 1979, the State has the legislative mandate to promote adult
education. The goals of adult education are laid down in article 2 of the Law on the Promotion of Adult
Education as follows: “Adult education offers the opportunity to acquire and multiply skills and abilities.
It contributes to the mental realization of the individual, in particular to personality development
and to increased interest of the population in contemporary issues.” In
July 1979, the Office for Adult Education was founded under the supervision of the Deanery. In 1985,
it took on free-time and continuing education on behalf of the Government. In this way, synergies could
converge and be used for the common good. There are now continuing education offerings in all municipalities
of the country. In addition to the Office for Adult Education, a number of other providers of specific
adult education offerings have developed. These include the Gutenberg House in Balzers, the Resch Community
Center in Schaan, and the Educational Association for Women. In addition, there are further providers
for whom adult education constitutes one aspect of their activities. The
Office for Adult Education mentioned above was transformed into the independent Stein-Egerta Adult Education
Institute in the year 2000. Twice yearly, the Institute publishes the “Course Book for Free-Time and
Adult Education”. Its circulation is approximately 17,000 and it is distributed to all households in
the country and to subscribers in the region. The programs of other education providers are sometimes
included; these providers also publish their own course programs. After
the dissolution of the Deanery upon establishment of the Archdiocese of Vaduz, adult education in Liechtenstein
was also restructured. The Law on Adult Education of 1979 was amended in 1999. A major change was the
establishment of the foundation under public law “Liechtenstein Adult Education”, which is governed
by a separate law. The Foundation assumed responsibility for adult education. It is accountable to the
Government. Its financial resources are drawn from the budget approved by the Parliament, as well as
from revenues from municipalities and private persons. The Foundation is inter alia responsible for
coordination of adult education, financial support of the education providers, monitoring of expenditures,
counseling, cultivation of international contacts, and further tasks. Liechtenstein
Adult Education Foundation  |
The premises of the Stein-Egerta
House offer many opportunities
for adult education
|
