childhood and early adulthood, and is replaced with a concept whereby everyone is involved in learning throughout life, both in formal and informal settings (Australia – Tight 1998)

Perhaps you had a bad experience at school and don't think that lifelong learning is for you? Perhaps you prefer to use your hands to do things rather than sitting and listening? Perhaps the thought of lifelong learning is daunting because you are worried about how to finance it? Fortunately for you, lifelong learning is not something you have to go to the store and purchase. It is not something you have to experience at a school and it is not something you have to hear from a lecturer. Lifelong learning is a lifestyle choice. It is a philosophy of empowerment that encourages individuals to take charge of their own learning.

• For students, when a teacher tells you to read chapter four of your text book for a class assignment, do not let that stop you from reading chapters five, six and seven.
• For business executives, that title does not entitle you to a get-past-free card. In the rapidly changing global environment, where mergers and takeovers are common place, where individuals change jobs six and seven times, it is essential even for those at the top of their game to constantly upgrade their skills.
• For the family of five, simply because you are on a family vacation does not mean that learning has stopped.
• For the boys on the street corner, just because you are talking about the latest football match between Barcelona and Arsenal does not mean that learning is not taking place. Where is Barcelona? Where is Arsenal? These questions represent a simple lesson in geography.

A major goal of lifelong learning is to see a learning opportunity in all of life's experiences. Whether it be in the classroom, at University, in a seminar, at a conference, in the playground, at the street dance, during the piano lesson or at work, learning is taking place no matter where you are located, what you are doing or how much you have to work with. It is an ongoing process.

Share in the beauty of lifelong learning. Become a learner for life, it's your right as a Jamaican.