Who Does a Night Course?

Over 300,000 people enrolled in a night course inLeaving Certificate subjects and practical IT or
Ireland in 2006. We decided to find out who arebusiness skills. Government schemes such as the
these people, and why did they choose a further or'Back to Education Initiative' are available to assist
adult education course...people who wish to get take a community education
The further education sector in Ireland is booming.course.
With more and more people of all ages returning toMany people are also attracted to VEC or further
education for a variety of reasons, it often seemseducation colleges to gain a new skill or qualification
like half of Ireland is taking some class of a course.to help with their career prospects. Professional
Aontas - the National Association of Adult Education -development is all the rage in the twenty-first
estimate that each year over 300,000 adultscentury and people are taking control of their own
participate in education in Ireland each year.careers in much greater numbers these days. A night
The Aontas statistics break down the 300,000 totalcourse can give you the extra skills, professional
into approximately 150,000 people in night courses ortraining, work experience, industry contacts and
evening classes, 30,000 students enrolled in PLCinsider know-how to allow you to take your career
programmes, 50,000 in community educationonto the next level. People aiming to gain promotion
schemes and the rest taking part in various literacyin their present job, on the lookout for a more
schemes, vocational training schemes, Youthreachchallenging role in a new company, or even thinking
programmes and distance learning courses. So whoabout setting up their own business on their own, all
are these people?use VEC courses to get where they want to go.
Maybe the most obvious group of people who enrolAnother group of people like the idea of taking a
in further education courses each year are schoolcourse for reasons which are not necessarily career
leavers or young people who for whatever reasonor professional based. Adult education covers courses
aren't attending a university or IT. VECs and furtherthat are informative and enlightening, but maybe not
education colleges offer a wide range of post leavingas demanding as strictly professional courses. Many
cert courses that are designed to prepare studentspeople decide to take a night course to pursue a
for work by giving them specific skills and training tohobby or learn new skills, to relax and de-stress after
help them compete in the jobs market. Thesea long day at work/at home, to add a little creativity
courses can also act as a taster or stepping-stone toor fun to their lives, to explore a subject as a taster
other third level qualifications at ITs, universities orto future learning, or just because they really like the
other colleges. Other students decide to take a yearsubject and want to learn more.
'out' to think about their future while gaining a generalPeople looking for good value for money for their
qualification in a broad area such as IT or business.course are also attracted to the VEC / further
VECs also cater for a large amount of people takingeducation sector. Many courses offered by VECs or
community education and basic adult educationfurther education colleges are heavily subsidized,
courses. These people might not have had anwhich means the course fees are low, nominal or
opportunity to complete their formal education whensometimes there is no cost at all. For example
they were younger, and might now be looking tounemployed people who are taking part in the Back
gain an approved qualification in subjects rangingto Education Initiative can have their fees paid for
including basic literacy and numeracy, Junior andthem.