E/1982/3/Add.16
English Page 5
16. In the course of follow-up action to the Russell Report, a major report on adult education published in 1973, the Government founded the Advisory Council for Adult and Continuing Education (ACACE) in 1977, with a remit to report on the development of future policies and priorities for working in the direction of a complete system to meet all the educational needs of adults. A report is expected in 1982. In 1980, the Council's activities were extended for a further three years, and among other things it is looking at the needs of ethnic minorities; the area of access to all levels of continuing education, particularly with reference to the structure and organization of courses; and, very specifically, at the contribution adult education can make to ameliorating the problems of the unemployed.
17.
The Government is currently taking a series of complementary initiatives in the field of vocationally-oriented post-school continuing education, including the suggestions of the Manpower Services Commission for a new training initiative and for an "open tech" programme to benefit technicians and junior supervisory staff. The Department of Education is starting to carry out the programme of action described in its discussion paper entitled "Continuing education: post-experience vocational provision for people in employment". This is intended to help the institutes of further and higher education respond more easily to demand from industry and commerce for opportunities for their employees, especially in the fields needed because of technological advances. The aim is to remove unnecessary administrative and financial disincentives in order to stimulate new teaching and planning approaches, and to promote effective information collection retrieval and dissemination.
18.
In recognition of the significance accorded to the preservation of adult education opportunities, the Department of Education is maintaining the real value of its grant to the Workers Educational Association, university extra-mural departments, residential colleges and various other associations. Particularly high priority is assigned to education in basic abilities - literacy, numeracy and communication.
Paragraph 2(d)
19.
Following the development by voluntary bodies of provision to help adult illiterates, a literacy campaign by the media in the mid-1970s stimulated a major development of work in this area. To stimulate local initiative, from 1975 the Government provided funds to support initiatives in adult literacy work, through two successive agencies. Unofficial estimates in 1974 suggested that 2 million adults needed help, and, since 1975, some 70,000 students have been assisted each year- not all on a regular basis. In 1977 the Government requested the Advisory Council (referred to in para. 16 above) to consider how literacy work might be further developed and expanded to cover other basic abilities. In the light of the Council's report entitled "A Strategy for the Basic Education of Adults", the Government, in 1980, decided to found, initially for three years, the Adult Literacy and Basic Skills Unit (ALBSU) to be a focus and stimulator in key priority areas literacy and numeracy, and communication and coping abilities relevant to gaining and retaining employment. The ALBSU grant was increased from one half million pounds in 1980-1981 to over one million pounds in 1981-1982.
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