Analysing mandatory continuing education.

Abstract

Of all the contentious issues surrounding the United Kingdom Central Council's continuing education proposals, the introduction of mandatory continuing education is perhaps the most controversial. This article sets out the issues surrounding it, including the postulated infringement of the voluntary principles of adult education, the effect it has on the learning process, and the possibility of it leading to uniform and inferior learning. The main issue, however, is whether mandatory continuing education achieves its objective of enabling staff to improve their practice. More research is required, the author argues, before this crucial question can be answered.