What We Learn in Later Life? Policy, Practice, and Future in China

Population aging has been a global phenomenon. In 2050 it is expected that one in six people will be aged 65 years or over in the world. With a large population, China chooses to implement the elderly education policy to respond to the challenge of population aging. In the policy system, China absorbs international ideals, such as lifelong learning, and active aging, into the national policies. However, in the practice, the elder’s curriculum exists an unbalanced state. The situation on rural elderly education lags far behind urban elderly education. This paper takes a chronological and historical approach to examine policies and practice in elder education in China. Recommendations are: (1) the national standard of curriculum for elderly education should be promoted. (2) the rural elderly should be paid more attention.