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International Journal of
Population Studies The right to lifelong learning

are working to make the rights for lifelong learning education through collaborative efforts by governments,
stronger and legally binding. civil society, and actors in the education system to ensure
Canadians are equipped for life in modern society and can
1.2. Low compliance and slow implementation of contribute to society throughout their lives.
lifelong learning
Several shortcomings and gaps in the protection of the 2.1. Objectives
human rights of older persons have been noted. The human Some promising conditions make Canada unusually well-
rights of individuals are to be respected until the end of placed to pioneer a framework for lifelong learning that
life. However, the obligation of countries is not established includes people 65–100 years. Such upstream thinking can
internationally, nor are they confirmed in national laws. be helpful for the international sharing of ideas regarding
Among the top reasons are that the rights are in multiple policy and infrastructure for full-fledged lifelong learning
international treaties, promulgated by different UN till the end of life. First, there are 7 million people aged
agencies without a common legal framework. There are no 65–100 years in Canada, forming 18% of the population
specified norms, penalties for infractions, or standards in (Table 1). It would not be possible to claim a policy for
international law, which are described as “the normative lifelong learning if almost one-fifth of the population had
gap” (Coalition to Strengthen the Rights of Older People, no provision for learning. Societal costs are high if there
n.d.). Due to this multiple and fragmented systems of laws, is an asymmetry in knowledge and skills between cohorts
countries opt out of some. Compliance becomes voluntary resulting in a generation gap. Second, the policy would
and not legally binding. Furthermore, countries could be have to serve a multicultural and multilingual population
exempt from the monitoring and reporting regimes that which requires a level of complexity for delivery. Many
are associated with only some of the treaties. For instance, other countries are experiencing increased migration, too,
in many countries, it is unlikely that Target 4.7 of SDG 4 and are likely to face similar situations. Third, Canada has a
will be met so that lifelong learning will be available to the fairly well-developed education system (CMEC, 2018), and
end of life by 2030. Older people could go to court in a class those aging out of the system into old age would demand
action lawsuit to claim non-compliance and a violation of such services. Fourth, while the UN Declaration of Human
human rights to ensure equal access to lifelong learning, Rights does not specify age as a basis for discrimination,
but currently, the legal options are complicated. the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom does. Fifth,
developing a policy framework without granular data for
2. The right to lifelong learning in Canada the population aged 65–100 years would be difficult.
Canada is a large federated country, with ten provinces and In 2021, for the first time, the Canadian Census provided
three territories, with a diverse multicultural population preliminary disaggregated data on this population group
speaking two official languages. Canada has a national (Statistics Canada, 2022a). These data can drive discussion
Charter of Rights and Freedoms, as well as human rights on a policy framework regarding whom, what, when,
legislation (Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, where, and how lifelong learning can be provided in later
1982). Every province and territory has its own set of life. Most countries only report aggregated data on the
legislation governing human rights and education. Due to population aged 65 years and over. With these points
the complexity of the federation, Canada is not a signatory
of the Convention against Discrimination in Education but Table 1. Age distribution of the Canadian population aged
complies with the recommendations and reports regularly 65–100 years and over by 5-year cohorts, Census 2021
to UNESCO (Council of Ministers of Education Canada
[CMEC], 2018). Age Total Men Women
Education is a significant human right in Canada. 65 years and over 7,021,430 3,224,680 3,796,745
Governments in Canada have established a solid legal 65–69 years 2,210,975 1,065,305 1,145,670
framework through legislation at the federal, provincial, 70–74 years 1,847,580 879,845 967,735
and territorial levels that firmly entrenches equality in all 75–79 years 1,260,935 589,090 671,845
spheres of life, including education or learning. Rather 80–84 years 840,550 370,900 469,645
than focus on discrimination, Canadian governments 85–89 years 525,440 212,740 312,700
recognize education as a fundamental social good, striving
for a system which provides equitable and fair access to 90–94 years 258,035 87,305 170,730
quality education for all at every level (CMEC, 2018). 95 – 99 years 68,385 17,670 50,710
The effort is directed at ensuring investment and equal 100 years and over 9,540 1,825 4,660
opportunities for success. The goal is to provide quality Source: Statistics Canada (2022c): Canadian census 2021.

Volume 9 Issue 3 (2023) 35 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.339