ADULT EDUCATION

Adult education, as the term signifies, is the education of grown - up man and women who are above eighteen years Bronson says." Adult education includes all activities with an educational purpose, carried on by people, In the ordinary business of life who use only part of their energy to acquire intellectual equipment." Ernst Baker says, "Adult education is given on a part - time basis and, therefore, given concurrently with work and the earning of a living." Maulana Azad re - oriented the concept of Adult education for preparing every citizen to play his part effectively in a democratic social order. So he renamed Adult education as 'Social Education'. In our country, adult education is imparted tinder (1) Adult Literacy i.e education for those adult who never had schooling before, and , (2) Continuation education i.e education for those adults who had some schooling before.

The Problem in India is that we have adopted democracy without preparing the ground for it by educating population. But even now it is no too late if the programme of Mass. Adult education, or Social Education is undertaken in right earnest as a mass movement. No doubt the prevision of universal, compulsory and free primary education is the only solution to the problem of illiteracy. But the country cannot afford to leave out a whole mass of adults and grown - ups of our society from the benefits of the literacy - drive. Apart from the political justification to the problem, Adult education is needed because it is a powerful auxiliary and an essential incentive to primary education. No programme of compulsory universal education can bear fruit without the active support and co - operation of adults. It is, therefore, imperative that education facilities should be provided to adults.

Mrs Emlila Teaching bro Shrikamal

The objects, or purpose, or functions of social education may be stated generally or pragmatically. The philosophically oriented functions of Adult education are clearing concepts of reality of universe and life, reconciling the old and the new approaches to life, balance and independent judgment, self - realization, human relationship and citizenship training and economic efficiency. According to the second approach which is more pragmatic and practical education has to perform two - fold purpose - to the individual and to the society. From the individual's point of view social education fulfills various purposes - remedial, vocational, health, recreational, self development and social skills. Form the social and national point of view the purpose of social education are social cohesion, national efficiency and development of national resources.

Brother Shreekamal (Student)

On the practical plane, however, there are some difficulties that confront a Social education planner or worker. Some of the main difficulties and problem are: isolation of adult education in education, accommodating difficulties, age structure of the adults, the family circumstances and background of learners, occupational grouping, cultural background, social - economic background, geo - graphical location of The social education center, level of the social education worker teacher, lack of proper knowledge of adult psy - chology, paucity of leisure lack of equipment, lack of motivation, fatigue of adults and their constitutional and temperamental lethargy, lack of proper publicity, hostility from certain vested interests, poor supervision of centres and half - hearted implementation.

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The difficulties have to be overcome either by cleverness, or by fact or by compromise, or maybe, by intentional avoidance. Only then we can hope to spread Adult Education. The purpose of all good teaching is to produce changes in human behavior. All adult education teacher must adopt a positive approach; he/ she should help the adults learn quickly and effectively and willing by using any of the three prevalent methods - the Teacher Dominated methods, the learner Dominated Method or the Co - operative Method. He/ she make use of any or all the seven types of aids given in the Government of India Handbook on Social Education viz, spoken words, spoken words reproduced through radio of recording, written words, chart, graphs and maps, objects represented as pictures, pictures reproduced by episcopate - slide etc, actual objects, field trips and specially arranged exhibitions, museums or films shows.

Gandiji's idea of social service for college students during the vacation and, later on full time basis will prove invaluable in this regards. Young men and women taking up Adult education as a drive should be fired with a missionary zeal to eradicate illiteracy and ignorance from our country.
The Slogan should be "EACH ONE, TEACH ONE."

For Further Information
Ps.Vishal Manger
Biblical Baptist Church
L - Kamrang, Namchi, S - Sikkim (India)
Email: pastorvishal@rediffmail.com
Contact : +91 - 9647888507
Logon: www.sikkimbbm.blogspot.in

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