The definition of Encyclopedia Britannica is: all kinds of education for people who have reached the age of working, voting, fighting and getting married, and those who have completed the stage of continuing education and learning from childhood. Some scholars in the United States believe that it is a systematic and continuous learning activity for adults to change their knowledge, views, values or skills. Suggestions on adult education put forward by UNESCO at the 19 education conference held in 1976 and the 4th international adult education conference held in 1985.
China used to call it social education, aiming at enabling adults to receive all educational opportunities provided by libraries, museums, cultural centers, public education halls and mass media. Adult education in China began in the early 20th century, and it is an organized, systematic and continuous educational process. If it is a half-day school for the poor, it is also called a tutorial school; Organize literacy classes and technical training for enterprise employees; In rural areas, there are "agricultural night schools" and "after-school classes". 19 19 After the May 4th Movement, with the birth of the * * * Production Party in China and the development of the revolutionary mass movement, organized, led and purposeful adult education with workers and peasants as the main body rose in different forms and contents. For example, workers' cram schools and night schools held in cities during the first and second revolutionary civil wars; Night school for farmers in rural revolutionary base areas. Winter classes, night classes and literacy classes were widely established in War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the anti-Japanese base areas and liberated areas during the War of Liberation, and literacy education, production knowledge education, current affairs policy education and health knowledge education were carried out among the masses; Establish cadre schools and party schools to educate cadres in political theory, military affairs and professional knowledge. At the same time, the National Government promulgated the "Implementation of the National Agricultural Extension Plan" and set up extension committees to impart agricultural scientific knowledge to farmers. Educators such as Tao Xingzhi, Yan and Huang Yanpei also advocated the rural education movement and organized cultural remedial and vocational and technical education for on-the-job workers and unemployed people.
1September, 949, The Same Program of China People's Political Consultative Conference stipulated: "The amateur education of workers and the education of on-the-job cadres must be strengthened." After the founding of People's Republic of China (PRC), adult education was brought into the national education system, thus occupying the same important position as basic education, vocational and technical education and higher education. In the 1950s, a large-scale literacy campaign was launched and various adult cultural and technical schools were opened. In 1960s, from primary education to higher education, various forms and levels of adult education system were initially formed. During the Cultural Revolution, adult education basically stopped.
From 65438 to 0978, after the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), adult education was restored and developed. Focus on rural literacy and agricultural practical technology education; Factories, mining areas and enterprises make up the courses of junior high school culture and primary technical knowledge for employees; Adult higher education not only resumed correspondence, evening university and amateur university, but also held CCTV, adult higher education self-study exam and cadre management college.
1987 the State Council approved the "Decision on the Reform and Development of Adult Education" issued by the State Education Commission, and further proposed that the main tasks of adult education are: on-the-job training for those who have already embarked on their jobs and need to change jobs or re-employment; Basic education for workers who have taken up their posts but have not completed primary and secondary education; Cultural and professional education for those who have been employed but cannot meet the post requirements; Continuing education for people with higher education; Educate adults in the whole society on social culture and civilized life.
1992, there were 8 14300 students in adult colleges, 9 14700 students in adult secondary schools and 8,288,900 students in adult primary schools. In rural areas, 44 million farmers have received various practical technical trainings, and in cities, more than 40 million employees have received various vocational trainings.