Originally published in 1987, at a time of high unemployment, this book provides a critical analysis of the role played by education in solving unemployment. It examines the practical, social and psychological effects of unemployment on adults and argues that formal institutional responses are inadequate within any long term perspective, and that it is rather community, informal and often unofficial initiatives that will provide learning experiences for unemployed people.

Case study report, adult education, unemployed, UK - teaching methods, teachers and students' attitudes, educational needs, curriculum, mathematics, writing, history, human relations.

Research report, adult education, unemployed, UK - psychological aspects, role of government agencys, voluntary organizations, mass media and advisory services, curriculum, experiments. References, statistical tables.

This book opens with a survey of the historical evolution of adult education in the UK and leads on to the study of the structure of adult learning. It discusses distance teaching opportunities such as the Open University and the National Extension College, and face-to-face teaching provision in adult education centres. It also looks at specific programmes such as the Adult Literacy Initiative in the mid-1970s, and at target groups like the adult unemployed, women and ethnic groups. Comprehensive and yet broad-ranging, this volume contains much new material that offers interesting insights into both present and future opportunities for adult education.

This book has two purposes: first to argue that there is a greater need now than ever before for liberal adult education for the working class. Such provision would both help to ameliorate the gross inequalities of our society and provide some counter-balance to the increasingly utilitarian and vocational orientation of post-school education. Secondly, the book aims to describe and analyse in some detail the community-based programme for various ‘disadvantaged’ working class groups that has been developed by a British Pioneer Work team concerned with adult continuing education. The methods, objectives and overall practice described in this case study are of relevance to those working in all sectors of adult and community education. This book is edited by two members of staff concerned with Pioneer Work development from the outset, and the contributors include other members of the Pioneer Work team of lecturers and researchers.