Workers have always had to adjust to ongoing changes in the labour market. The second half of this century has been characterised by this dynamic change and workers must, more than ever before, update their knowledgeable about their trade or profession. Education has taken the responsibility to upgrade and enhance the workers' perspective on the continuing changes that keep affecting the labour world. This study focuses on the various organisations providing adult education courses for workers to examine their agenda and its implementation. However this study was also concerned with the impact of these educational programmes on workers. Therefore the workers' views and perceptions feature prominently in this study. Questionnaires were handed out to workers, educational officers were interviewed and lessons were observed in order to obtain a clear picture of the local adult education provision. What do workers expect from further learning? Why do they go back to formal learning? Are local courses for adults effective? Do organisations of adult education have a hidden agenda? Who decides what must be taught? The analysis of these questions will generate a debate and suggest options for supplementary improvement.

B.Ed.(Hons.)
May 2004

Keywords:

Workers, Education Development, Lifelong Learning, Knowlege