290	THE  BRITISH  APPROACH  TO  POLITICS
Trade, art and technical schools provide higher education in
subjects for which the ordinary secondary school cannot
satisfactorily cater. A numbe* of pupils, when they have begun
work in industry or commence, continue part time education
at evening institutes, or, if jheir employment permits, at day
continuation schools. It was the original intention of the 1918
Act to make attendance at day continuation schools obligatory,
but these provisions were never enforced. At present, secondary
education, both whole and part time, is not available to more
than one quarter of the children of suitable age and it is the desire
of most educationists to make it universal, raising the school
leaving age to sixteen. Such an extension would involve a change
in school curricula; to-day, secondary education is in the main
a necessary prelude to the better paid jobs; it could become an
instrument for raising the general intelligence of the nation,
in accordance with the needs of an age of increased leisure.
All publicly controlled or aided schools are inspected both by
the local education authority, and by the Board of Education,
which makes grants provided the service is efficient. The great
majority of other schools also submit themselves to the Board's
inspection, since this keeps them in touch with the general progress
of education.
Universities originate from private benefactions, but receive
considerable help from the State, and co-operate with local
authorities in providing adult education classes, and in training
teachers.
For adult education there is a large and growing demand.
Some people wish to acquire special knowledge which will help
them to obtain better-paid employment, and make progress in
their work. Many desire a wider knowledge of the arts, and the
social and natural sciences, either for pleasure or to enable them
to take a greater interest in public affairs. The local authorities
try to meet this need by establishing institutes, co-operating with
the Universities and assisting colleges founded by private people
to extend thteir activities. A private body the Workers Educational