Adult education, a second chance?

Kohnstamm pointed out that the education system creates unequal opportunities and wanted to help rectify this. He sought ways in which education (initial and adult) can further equal opportunities. This contribution examines how adult education courses have developed in the last hundred years, who participated and why, and what the outcomes were. Adult education has offered adults who left school when young a second chance. Their desire to develop and improve themselves further was considerable; this was well defined and the numbers of participants significant. But following these types of courses in addition to everyday responsibilities proved difficult and many dropped out. The average level of education in the Netherlands has increased and adult education now focuses less on secondary education and more on education for illiterates. This group is highly diverse and more difficult to reach and motivate, making huge demands on acquisition, intake and course content.