EDITORIAL The stronger adult education, the stronger democracy

In her editorial on the theme of Adult Education and Democracy, ELM Editorial Board member Dina Soeiro emphasises how adult learning—through critical thinking, media literacy and civic engagement—empowers citizens to shape their communities and strengthen democracy.

Democracy thrives when citizens are informed, engaged and capable of making thoughtful decisions about the issues that affect their lives. Yet democracy is not a guaranteed achievement; it requires continuous renewal. One of the most powerful yet often overlooked tools for this renewal is adult education.

Adult education empowers citizens with critical thinking skills, the ability to access and evaluate information and the confidence to participate in civic life. In today’s world, where misinformation spreads rapidly and political debates are complex, adults must be able to navigate these challenges with knowledge and discernment.

Democracy is built on participation: community organising, volunteering and advocacy. These forms of engagement require awareness, skills and a sense of responsibility that are cultivated through lifelong learning. Adult education enables people to develop their voices as active citizens.

In this sense, adult education is not only a personal right but also a collective necessity for democracy to remain robust and inclusive. When people feel confident that their voices matter, they are more likely to participate. This sense of engagement is the heartbeat of democracy.

ADULT EDUCATION AND DEMOCRACY today are under pressure. Across the world, trust in institutions is declining, political polarisation is rising and misinformation spreads faster than truth. Too many citizens feel powerless or excluded, watching politics from the sidelines instead of shaping it.

If this continues, democracy risks becoming weaker, even fragile. Across societies, we see growing apathy alongside rising extremism. These are not abstract dangers—they are cracks in the very foundations of democracy.

Without the tools to understand complex social and political issues, many citizens withdraw from participation or become vulnerable to manipulation by simplistic slogans and populist rhetoric.

Adult education is about learning how to evaluate information. It gives people the tools to think critically, ask questions and make decisions based on facts rather than fear or manipulation.

Adult education is about learning how to evaluate information and take part in discussions that shape our communities.

By opening spaces for dialogue, teaching media literacy and fostering critical reflection, it strengthens the foundations of democratic life. It is also an essential pathway for inclusion. Offering people educational opportunities ensures that democracy reflects the diversity of society. It encourages citizens to see themselves not as spectators, but as active contributors to society.

Adult education is a living practice that enables citizens to take democracy into their own hands. When adults learn, they do not merely adapt to the world around them—they act to change it. In all these ways, adult education turns passive frustration into active participation.

IF WE WANT STRONG DEMOCRACIES, we must make adult education a priority. Governments, civil society and educational institutions must work together to offer affordable, accessible and relevant learning opportunities to people’s real lives.

A healthy democracy needs citizens who can listen, argue and collaborate. Adult education helps to nurture that civic energy. Investing in it is a way of keeping democracy alive for future generations.

Supporting adult education is not just a policy choice—it is a democratic urgency. To weaken adult education is to weaken democracy; to reduce it to market interests is to put humanity itself in danger.

Investing in adult education is a way of keeping democracy alive for future generations.

Allow me to share the Portuguese example of how to weaken democracy: the OECD’s report Education at a Glance 2025 revealed how social inequalities deny many Portuguese citizens the right to education. The Portuguese PIAAC (Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies) results expose decades of government neglect toward adult education. Yet rather than act on this urgent call, the government has extinguished ANQEP, the National Agency for Qualification and Vocational Education, fragmented its responsibilities, and deliberately weakened Adult Learning and Education.

Democracy is as strong as the citizens who defend it. Adult education is their weapon, their shield and their voice. Without it, democracy will perish.

TODAY, DEMOCRACY IS ALSO DIGITAL. From public services to civic debate, participation depends on access to technology and the skills to use it. Yet many adults remain excluded. The digital divide mirrors and deepens social inequalities, blocking full citizen participation.

Without intentional strategies, digitalisation risks amplifying inequalities and undermining democracy. But if guided by inclusive education, it can strengthen civic agency and broaden participation. Adult education, therefore, must be recognised as a key strategy for ensuring that digitalisation strengthens rather than weakens democracy.

Guided by inclusive education, digitalisation can strengthen civic agency and renew democracy.

For this transformation to be effective, policymakers must take concrete steps. Governments and institutions should recognise and adequately fund adult education as a central strategy for strengthening democracy in a digital age. At the same time, policies should protect and promote digital rights, ensuring that the digital public sphere is transparent, diverse and open rather than shaped solely by market forces.

AS A SUMMARY, adult education and democracy are deeply intertwined. By strengthening adult learning and education, we strengthen democracy itself. Every adult who gains digital literacy, every community that develops spaces for lifelong learning and every educator who fosters critical reflection contributes to a more inclusive, participatory and resilient democratic culture.

Adult education is not just an educational policy; it is a democratic imperative.

From September to December, ELM Magazine will explore the role of adult education in fostering democracy. We begin with a case from Palestine — a collaborative project in which Bethlehem University and the Kvs Foundation organise media literacy courses. Later, we will examine digital inclusion as a means of enabling civic and democratic participation in the Nordic and Baltic countries.

Stay tuned for more stories bringing fresh insights and unique perspectives.

Looking for more articles on the role of adult education in supporting democracy?

This article is part of the theme 'Adult Education and Democracy 2025'.

Read related articles here