Provision of adult education in schools is set to expand as a result of an agreement with the Government over structures for delivering programmes, the conference was told.
Schools offering significant part-time adult education programmes will be able to appoint a director of adult education under the new structures, according to Mr John White, ASTI deputy general secretary. The plans had been agreed between the ASTI and the Department of Education in recent weeks and would bring schools into an era of "lifelong learning".
Mr White said adult education was now a big part of the education system and some schools had as many as 3,000 students taking night courses. The new structures allow schools to create posts of responsibility directly linked to adult education provision.
Mr White said principals would be entitled to a £750 annual allowance if their school offered a part-time adult education programme. This would be in recognition of "the promotion and development of adult education programmes" undertaken by principals, according to a document circulated at the conference.
The proposals are strict in terms of what courses are covered under the heading of adult education. Personal and social development, hobby and leisure courses of an academic and practical nature and second-chance courses are included.
However, courses designed for students below school-leaving age are specifically excluded.
The document circulated to the conference pointed out that one area requiring attention from the Department of Education was the number of centres offering adult education which were not attached to a school.
"The Department is favourably disposed towards putting in place arrangements for the organisation of adult education in these centres which are on a par with the provision in the night school," the document said.