Dr Fred LockwoodWith over 113 million children world-wide denied schooling, the United Nations has a huge challenge ahead in meeting its 2015 Millenium Goal of ensuring that all children have the opportunity to complete primary school.

However, according to Emeritus Professor of Teaching and Learning at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK, Dr Fred Lockwood, there is evidence to indicate that progress is being made towards this goal, with children in primary education in developing nations increasing to 88% in the school year 2004/2005 (UNESCO, 2007).

One of the contributing factors for this increase is open schooling. For example, national and regional open schools in India have increased participation rates to 90+%. However, this success is generating a ‘tidal wave' of students wishing to enter secondary schools, colleges and universities around the world.

To meet these demands Dr Lockwood believes we will need to teach differently and to embrace new technologies and distance teaching methods. He argues that: "The challenge of increasing access to potential learners will not be achieved by trying to scale-up current, conventional provision."

Dr Lockwood will share with an international contingent of educators the challenges and demands of open learning this week.

Dr Lockwood will be a keynote speaker at Central Queensland University's 5th Lifelong Learning Conference at Yeppoon's Rydges Capricorn Resort from June 16 to 19. His keynote address is titled "Meeting the challenges: increasing access, exploiting the use of C & IT and enhancing the quality of learning and teaching".

The Conference aims to identify and unite the various partners involved with lifelong learning including educators across all sectors, industry representatives, policy makers and lifelong learners themselves. 

Participants will come from across Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States, Europe and Asia.

For further information regarding the Conference email lifelong-learning-conference@cqu.edu.au or visit the website www.lifelonglearning.cqu.edu.au .