An assessment of Rev. Professor Timothy J. Corcoran's major works in the field of Irish educational historiography

Abstract

The initial and inservice education and training of adult tutors has been described as “the biggest challenge facing the field of adult education” (UNESCO 1985). Studies and reports from many countries suggest that although the importance of, and the necessity for such preservice education is clearly recognised, few substantive efforts to meet this challenge have been made.

This paper attempts to unravel the factors contributing to inadequacies in the preparation and training of professionals in the field of adult education. In Ireland, as in other countries, a host of organisations and agencies make provision for the education of adults. However, adult education is virtually “invisible” in contrast to other sectors of education. The situation is due, mainly, to the lack of status ascribed to, or achieved by adult education. The structural location, the content and the process of adult education have been identified as the major contributory factors responsible for this low‐status. Inadequate provision for the preparation, training and retraining of adult educators is one of the causes of the low status of adult education and also the effect of such status.

The “patternless mosaic” of agencies providing courses and their attempts to offer professional training to their personnel are examined and some remedies to up‐grade both the status of the adult educator and the totality of adult education are suggested.