ELDERLY EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING: LEGAL AND SHARIAH PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

Prioritising the elderly should be a national priority before Malaysia turns into an old country, which is anticipated to happen in the year 2030. Reimagining what quality aging will entail in the future is required to provide older people in Malaysia the best possibilities for a quality life. One way to ensure that the elderly will age graciously is through education or learning. However, there are various barriers and challenges which limit the development of elderly education and lifelong learning in Malaysia. This study, therefore, focuses to explore prominent issues regarding elderly education and lifelong learning. This would include analysing the existing laws and policies related to the elderly. Apart from that, the Shariah perspectives on this area are also discussed to illustrate the importance of learning for elderly. This study is a qualitative legal study employing doctrinal approach and document analysis. The findings illustrate that, although there are existing legal instruments and syariah authorities on the significance of elderly education and learning at a later stage, a policy reform is needed especially in terms of the strategies and implementation of the polices. The policy should be reformed, the challenges should be addressed, coordination and collaboration should be enhanced. The policies need to be more inclusive involving higher numbers of senior citizens in Malaysia. Additionally, a mechanism is required to educate the elderly about the importance of learning at a later stage as reflected in the national policies and shariah principles. This paper shall assist the policy makers in enhancing the policy on older people particularly on the aspect or elderly education and life learning in Malaysia. The challenges faced by Malaysia specifically in ensuring the inclusiveness of the programmes involving senior citizens in Malaysia shall be lessons for other countries in strengthening their policies for older people.