CHAPTER 8 - The Responsibility of Public Authorities

Abstract

This chapter describes the responsibilities of public authorities toward lifelong education. It focuses on the local education authorities that are one of the main providing partners in adult education. The local education authorities —those maids of all work—have the main responsibility to adult education, stemming from the Education Act, 1944. First the Secretary of State for Education and Science is instructed to promote the education of the people of England and Wales and to secure the effective execution by local education authorities, under his control and direction, of the national policy for providing a varied and comprehensive educational service in every area. Then local education authorities are told, as far as their powers extend, to promote the spiritual, moral, mental, and physical development of the community, by securing that efficient further education shall be available.