Adult education: politics, rights and privilege

Education as a right, or a privilege for that matter, is not a part of contemporary jargon in adult education. Yet it was in the 1960s and 1970s. But the 1990s are different. It is the changes that make this era different and their impact on adult education that are considered in this paper. First, rights, privilege and consensus are discussed and related to adult education. Then education and the new orthodoxy will be considered and five of the points of challenge this brings to general adult education. Finally, the future of general adult education will be canvassed, particularly in relation to politics, both left and right.

Education as a right, or a privilege for that matter, is not a part of contemporary jargon in adult education. Yet it was in the 1960s and 1970s. But the 1990s are different. It is the changes that make this era different and their impact on adult education that are considered in this paper. First, rights, privilege and consensus are discussed and related to adult education. Then education and the new orthodoxy will be considered and five of the points of challenge this brings to general adult education. Finally, the future of general adult education will be canvassed, particularly in ...  [+] Show more