ABSTRACT
Belgium was industrialised quite early in the nineteenth century. Partly to meet the great demand for skilled workers an education system evolved which also gave consideration to teaching adults. Evening and Sunday schools were mentioned in the first laws concerning primary and vocational education in 1842. The teaching staffs in the vocational training programme for trade people are recruited partly from teachers but mostly from merchants and artisans who have an interest in teaching. Many volunteers are involved in socio-cultural development work as committee members. But in some kinds of work, such as literacy, that is, adult basic education, they also lead groups. Part-time adult educators form the largest group of workers in adult education they are rarely offered training or retraining courses. There are only a few professional workers in adult education and the majority of these are to be found in socio-cultural and vocational education for the unemployed.
