Page "Harold Wilson" Paragraph 38

Wilson also deserves credit for grasping the concept of an Open University, to give adults who had missed out on tertiary education a second chance through part-time study and distance learning.

His political commitment included assigning implementation responsibility to Baroness Lee, the widow of Aneurin Bevan, the charismatic leader of Labour's left wing whom Wilson had joined in resigning from the Attlee cabinet.

The Open University worked through summer schools, postal tuition and television programmes.

By 1981, 45, 000 students had received degrees through the Open University.

Money was also channelled into local-authority run colleges of education.