SINCE 1962 LOCAL EDUCATION AUTHORITIES HAVE OFFERED GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES AT SELECTED COLLEGES, IN COOPERATION WITH LOCAL FIRMS, FOR YOUNG EMPLOYEES. IN NEARLY ALL COLLEGES THESE STUDENTS ATTEND CLASSES ONE DAY A WEEK, ALTHOUGH EXPERIMENTS WITH BLOCK RELEASE AND WEEKEND RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS HAVE BEEN MADE. STUDENTS ARE RECRUITED PRIMARILY THROUGH PERSONAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE COLLEGES AND EMPLOYERS. IN MANY COLLEGES ENGLISH, SOCIAL STUDIES, AND CALCULATION ARE COMPULSORY, WITH OTHER ACADEMIC SUBJECTS AND CULTURAL, PRACTICAL, AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES OFFERED AS ELECTIVES. TEACHING METHODS INCLUDE STUDY GROUPS, LIBRARY REFERENCE WORK, DISCUSSION GROUPS, PRODUCTION OF A COLLEGE MAGAZINE, AND SOCIAL SERVICE WORK IN THE COMMUNITY. THE EDUCATORS' CLAIMS THAT THE PROGRAM IMPROVES ENGLISH AND OTHER BASIC SKILLS AND DEVELOPS THE ABILITY TO WORK INDEPENDENTLY, A SENSITIVITY TO SOCIAL PROBLEMS, AND RESPONSIBLE ATTITUDES TOWARD WORK AND LEISURE ARE UPHELD IN PART BY THE FACT THAT EMPLOYERS CONSIDERED THE COLLEGE REPORTS SERIOUSLY, PARTICULARLY WHEN SELECTING YOUNG WORKERS FOR PROMOTION. (DOCUMENT INCLUDES A LIST OF PARTICIPATING COLLEGES.) THIS DOCUMENT, S.O. CODE NO. 27-410, IS AVAILABLE FROM HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE, 49 HIGH HOLBORN, LONDON W.C.1. THREE SCHILLINGS. 20 PAGES. (AJ)