The article describes stages in the development of the municipally owned "workers' institutes" to provide education for adults in Finland and the now more common "civic institutes" with public or private sponsorship. Included are administrative structure, financing, staff, students, facilities, teaching arrangements, subjects…

Discusses the Finnish government's decision of principles concerning the development of adult education in terms of "free cultural and educational work": adult education centers or civic and workers' institutes, folk high schools, and study circles and cultural work of national civic organizations. (MF)