Critical links between recognition of prior learning, economic changes and social justice in Portugal

This paper is a reflection on recent Portuguese policy on adult education. It explores the policy discussion at the national level from 1999 and in particular after 2005, when the New Opportunities Initiative (Iniciativa Novas Oportunidades in Portuguese) was adopted and European Union (EU) guidelines were given considerable emphasis. The first section discusses the empirical methodology undertaken. The second section briefly examines policy discourses since 1974, stressing dominant trends such as popular education, second-chance/ compensatory education and vocational training. The third and fourth sections explore adult education and training policy discourses from the perspective of social justice. Particular attention is devoted to a specific policy instrument - the recognition of prior learning (Reconhecimento, Validacao e Certificacao de Competencias - RVCC), aimed at widening adult access to basic education - in the fifth section. The last section is devoted to final thoughts, in particular the contribution of the RVCC to social justice.