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Educational Management

Notes UNESCO in an International Conference on the Development of Adult Education (1976) explained the
meaning of adult education as, “The term Adult education denotes the entire body of organised
educational process, whatever content, level and method, whether formal or otherwise, whether
they prolong or replace education in schools, colleges and universities as well as in apprenticeship,
whereby persons regarded as adults by the society to which they belong develop their abilities,
enrich their knowledge, improve their technical or professional qualifications and bring about changes
in their attitudes or behaviour in the two-fold perspective of full personal development and
participates in balanced and independent social, economic and cultural development. It is an integral
part of life-long education and learning.”
A perusal of the above definition indicates that the definition and meaning of adult education is the
same as that of education except that it relates to adults. It is a broad and comprehensive definition.
According to Bryson, “Adult education includes all activities and educational purposes carried on
in ordinary business of life by people who use only part of their energy to acquire intellectual
development.”
“Adult education is education given on part-time basis and given, therefore, concurrently with
work and the earning of a living.” Earnest Baker.
In the words of Morgan and Holmes, “Adult education may be thought as the conscious effort of
mature persons to learn something new.”
Reense, Fenster and Houle state, “Adult education may be concerned with any or more of three
aspects of an individual’s life, his work life, his personal life and his life as a citizen.”
S.N. Mukerjee defines adult education as to “include all instruction, formal and informal imparted
to adults.”
‘A Handbook of Adult Education Instructors’ (1980) published by the Ministry stated the meaning of
adult education as “Adult education is a package of educational programme for adults outside the
formal educational system aiming at providing more information and both knowledge and skills
for improving their life-style and also earning capacity.”
16.1.4 Importance of Women’s Education

Women plays a prominent role in the cultural, economic, political, religious and social life of a
country. The ancient people of India fully realised this fact and accorded a reasonable status to
women and encouraged their education. According to Vedas, women should have opportunity to
attain knowledge of the Vedas from all four courses (Rig Veda 14.9.64). More than 400 verses in the
Vedas are ascribed to 24 women seers. In the Vedas, women have been called ‘Updeshtri’ of
knowledge and this indicates, women working as teachers (Rig Veda 1.3.11).
Swami Vivekananda has emphasised, “If you do not raise the women who are living embodiment
of the divine mother, don’t think that you have any other way to rise.”
Gandhiji stated the importance of women education in these words, “I am strongly of the opinion
that women should have the same facilities as men and even special facilities where necessary.”
Jawaharlal Nehru very rightly observed, “Education of a boy is the education of one person, but
education of a girl is the education of entire family.”
In view of the importance of women education in national development, the University Education
Commission 1948-49 remarked, “There can’t be an educated people without education of women. If
general education had to be limited to men or to women, then opportunity should be given to
women, from them it would more surely be passed to the next generation.”
Similarly, the Kothari Commission 1964-66, stated, “For full development of human resources, the
improvement of human beings and for moulding the character of children during the most
impressionable years of infancy, the education of women is of great importance than that of men.”

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