This study is concerned with informal education activities (in France) to promote socio-professional advancement for adolescents up to the age of majority and for adults up to the age of about 40. The three types of activity considered (training, retraining, and further training) are carried on by many organizations--all under the authority of the State--run by professional bodies, firms themselves, or by private enterprise. State activities include the Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers and the Association pour la Formation Professionnalle des Adultes, set up by the Ministry of Labour. Research bodies were set up at the University of Nancy and others. Recently created "vocational education sections" are intended for adolescents who have left school early. Training is also provided by corporative bodies and by firms, either through their own facilities or through those of professional or private activities. There is a need for synthesis of this informal education with formal aspects; this will call for a new approach to formal education and organization of the system of informal education. (NL)