Or even have with enough ideas on the issue

Multiple surveys have looked, in recent years, on the continuing education, expectations for it companies and employees, its tools, its practices... But none was really interested in the image that the "public" it was. It is this gap that fills a study presented today by the Chamber of commerce and industry of Paris (), and "Les echos" show here, exclusively, the main lines.

The first surprise: despite the sums dedicated him is commonly cited the figure of EUR 24 billion a year , continuing training leaves still a large part of the active population. Thus, 58 of respondents say have never benefited. To immediately appears here first cleavage repeatedly pointed out: the 42 of French which followed one (or more) training (continuous (s) belong to the socio-professional categories (CSP) higher and intermediaries, have diploma level bac 2 and more, have more than forty-five years and are rather men. In short, access to continuing training is not equally distributed. Some never fail to conclude that it has first to those who have the least need...

It is true that, for many respondents, the workings of the continuing education remain mysterious: two-thirds (67) of those who have not practised it do not know to whom to address. Other arguments advanced for the refrain: "It takes too much time" (41), "the patterns are not favourable" (36) or even a too high cost (34). Even if they are 77 to be considered a continuing training "is not complicated". Conversely, the graduates are also the most affirming in the matter. They are the ones who, often take the initiative to form, which are only their training or who asks for their employer.

With enough ideas

But the study also provides another surprising education: this very uneven access does not more than three-quarters of the sample (78) declare know that covers training. Or even have with enough ideas on the issue. "Overall, the French may not have a very clear vision of continuing training, is Anne-Marie Le Bévillon, who led the investigation in the Directorate of education of the CCIP." But they display a number of strong convictions against him. They see a sort of "school for all", without significant socio-professional category discrimination or degree level. "Thus, for 83 of respondents, all adults can benefit from continuing education, without distinction of age, employment status or degree. Not question the reservations to certain categories of population thus: they are 87 to estimate that even a good degree must not prevent access and 88 that "there is no age for form."

And if they have integrated the concept of "lifelong training", that "co-responsibility" is not foreign nor: 64 of respondents believe that the decision of training must be made between the employee and the company. For funding, if 60 believe that it is the purview of the company and 35 of the State, 60 of people expressed ready to hand the bag to form. And even the training outside their working time.

A factor of well-being

What is continuing education First, for 72 of the interviewees to "improve its knowledge at the service of the undertaking in which it works", but also to "develop his general culture and knowledge" (54). However, obtaining a promotion (27) or a higher remuneration (25) is cited in last position. "Continuing education provides not only a social and personal benefit: it is also a factor of well-being, or even self-esteem", said Anne-Marie Le Bévillon. Those who have not followed vocational training however have a more "utilitarian" view: for them, it is addressed primarily to persons in difficulty in employment and should be used to find a position. And if, classically, preferences are on training in computer science and languages, it should be noted that the programmes dealing with the creation of business collect 9 of the vote.

Total if they are often blurred perception of the reality of continuing training, the French have overall good opinion despite recurring criticism about its lack of effectiveness or its funding. Thus, for 72 of them, a "diploma of continuing education, it is as well as a graduate school and University." And 80 believe that "training to obtain a degree that it could not have younger."