ABSTRACT
This brief essay is presented primarily from the perspective of the provision of education for adults. Adult education in England and Wales is essentially pluralistic, reflecting in many respects the society it serves. Whilst having the advantages of diversity and flexibility, the structure may appear confusing and arbitrary to the user or potential student. Indeed, in this latter respect much stress 1 has been laid in recent years on the need for information and guidance to enable fuller use of the range of services by a wider profile of the population, and to encourage more informed choice of and demand for appropriate educational experiences.
