On the Performance of Self-Directed Learning within the French Continuing Vocational Training System.

Continuing vocational training (CVT) was officially introduced and codified in France in 1971 to promote individuals' employability, career development, and job flexibility. Self-directed learning was initially considered among the most important instruments for its implementation in addition to employer-directed CVT. Despite increased and diversified efforts to develop self-directed CVT over the past 24 years, it remains a relatively marginal and continually diminishing part of the CVT system. Reasons for this fact include the growing dominance of enterprise-oriented CVT and the insufficiency of the compensatory actions taken by state and local authorities. Improving the performance of self-directed learning within France's CVT system requires that it be merged with the whole initial vocational education and training system and the capacity of all components of the merged system be integrated to achieve the following objectives: (1) develop "transversal competencies" (core skills and key qualifications) that empower individuals in shaping technology, managing their own learning, and transferring skills to complex work tasks; (2) promote curriculum flexibility over time and across individuals and space; (3) provide different learning methods at different times and in different institutions to meet the needs of individuals and groups of individuals; and (4) facilitate access to learning and transfer between different levels and routes of learning. (Contains 22 references.) (Author/MN)