1.1    Background of the Study
The ability to understand the concept and particularly adult education may depend on a number of factors such as educational level, political maturity and socio-economic status of the people. And as adult education constitutes the integral part of the entire educational system and remains a tool for political, social economic and educational development to mention few. From the above integral factors listed above, the concept “Adult education†needs to be properly understood by the all people.
The term “adult education†is perhaps one of the lips of the people if you ask an ordinary man on the street what is adult education? He is likely to rug his shoulders and look at you with an astonishment as if you have no right to “Lawyer me†yet as an adult he remains a permanent target of adult education for an adult he is both a recipient and a promoter of adult education. If you ask the man on the street he is likely to see adult education for the never to do well, who are doing in the evening what they should have normally have done early in the day if you ask primary pupil what is adult education he is likely to look at you with amazement for he is yet battling with his ABC; 123; dictation, writing and the memorization of the national pledgeâ€Â. However, it is still disappointing and already clear that the view and the spit of adult education for the disadvantage even though the importance of this should not be understated in regretting the neglect of adult rights to education. Adult education is one of the important in education sector in the country.
1.2    Statement of the Problem
A researcher designing to compare the effectiveness of adult education to other discipline in our educational institution finds it extremely difficult to have access to information concerning such from our libraries or readily at people disposal which is vital to their area of investigation and awareness. This makes it possible for adult education programme to receive recognition for instance, many are training manager in industries is ignorant of the fact that he is an adult educator officer and the social welfare officer lets also look at it from the perspective for instance, a lecturer in the department of remedial studies of the university may not know he is undertaking adult education programme talk less of the student in that department. In many universities, most student remain unaware of what constitutes adult education degree from a department of teacher education who as incapable of defining the functions of adult education. Yet the department of adult is the oldest of all department of education in other Nigeria universities, despite the fact that education objectives programme are stated in the national adult education (NNCAE) documents. To be more accurate, the challenges facing adult education originates from peoples, perception of the discipline and the task facing it are becoming neither fewer on easier so it is suddenly realized that adult education can to and increasing extent compensate of educational economic, socials political and other short coming. This call for the end of need of right perception to adult education especially among the literature students, societal responsibility.
1.3    Objectives of the Study
This survey research is design to serve the following objectives for the both researchers and other in the field of adult education.
1.4    Research Questions
1.5    Scope and Limitation of The study
The study is limited to the members, staffs, and students of the University of Maiduguri.
1.6    Significance of the Study
The research work is carried out to know some of the factors responsible for making adult education. And to provides information for future research policy making programme development and general information for national development.
1.7    Operational Definition of the Terms
The following terms are defined according to how they are used in this study.
Student: A student is a person who is studying at a school, college, university etc.
Perception: It is the ability to understand the fine nature of something an idea, a belief or an image you have as a result of how you see or understand.
Adult Education: It can defined as all inclusive pattern of adult development which has in view with the need of adult hot as an community and which help him to live more effectively in his society.
It is also be defined as a practice in which an adult engage in systematic and sustain learning activities in order to get new forms of knowledge attitude skills and value it is also design for those that did not get or attain through literary programme.
Academic: It can be defined as a world learning teaching, research connected with education especially studying in the school and university.
Discipline: It can be defined as an area of knowledge subjects that people study or are taught especially in a university and college of education level.