Education ended at the Leaving Cert for most people in the 1980s. Now, though, a wide range of opportunities are catering to people who don't want to stop learning, writes Louise Holden

In 1987 adults were the lesser-spotted users of Irish education, the exotica of the lecture theatre. The term "adult education" suggested empty-nesters arranging flowers in the local parish hall.

In 1987 there were only 5,000 adults taking literacy courses, despite the fact that adult illiteracy levels ran (and still run) high. About 80,000 adults were involved in some sort of education or training in a private capacity, while a further 30,000 were active in community education groups. Mature students in the universities were rare.

The whole adult education "system" in Ireland was built on self-financing or volunteering. Apart from the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) and Youthreach, state involvement in adult education was minimal. Government investment in the sector accounted for 0.01 per cent of the overall education budget.

A lot has changed in 20 years. There are now an estimated 400,000 adult students taking part in courses ranging from hobbies to master's degrees. The government invests €40 million a year in adult education. Offerings for adult learners have proliferated and state agencies are now substantially involved in service delivery.

Real change began in 1997, with the publication of the International Adult Literacy Survey in 1997. The OECD report put the number of Irish adults without functional literacy skills at 500,000. That year, investment in the adult education was around €1 million. Within a year, it had increased to €10 million. Finally, the sapling sector was breaking ground.

In 1997 Willie O'Dea TD was appointed Minister of State for Adult Education. O'Dea was vigorous in the role and in 2000 the White Paper on Adult Education was launched. The Paper committed the government to a national adult-literacy programme, the Back to Education Initiative, the expansion of Youthreach, Post-Leaving Certificate Courses (PLCs) and the VTOS, the development of an adult guidance service, the implementation of a National Qualification Framework and the establishment of a National Adult Learning Council and Local Adult Education Boards.

To the disappointment of the adult education community, however, the White Paper stopped short of abolishing third-level fees for part-time students.

"Willie O'Dea's White Paper on Adult Education in 2000 was a key moment," says Berni Brady of the adult education agency AONTAS. "For the first time adult education had a policy framework. The National Development Plan 2000-2006 allowed for the funding of new programmes such as the Back to Education Initiative, the Adult Education and Guidance Initiative and Education Equality Initiative. Access to adult learning began to open up."

Since the White Paper, the National Qualification Framework, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (Hetac) and the Further Education Training and Awards Council (Fetac) have been set up. These three developments have created a structure for all students that allows them to study for recognised qualifications that fit into a framework alongside established milestones such as the Leaving Certificate or a Bachelor of Arts.

The result, according to Brady, is that adults now have "an antenna for qualifications" that they did not have 20 years ago. Certified learning is the order of the day.

One of the most popular study routes for adult learners, the Post Leaving Cert sector, was originally intended for school leavers, but is now populated by about 30,000 adults, making up 40 per cent of all PLC students. The PLC sector is one of the very few places in Ireland where an adult can learn for free.

There are now 30,000 adult literacy students in the country, and about 5,000 tutors. There has been a six-fold increase in literacy training in 20 years, but most of the progress happened in the wake of the OECD report.

The mature learner at university is now part of the furniture. For those who can afford to take up full-time study, a degree is now an accessible option. Universities are aiming for mature student rates of 10 per cent.

Fás, the state training and employment agency, now has thousands of adult students on programmes such as One-Step-Up, designed to accommodate working adults to upskill within their jobs. The current emphasis of the government support is Intensive Basic Adult Education, which has started to attract more people already in the workplace to learning. It's a critical measure given that Ireland has the lowest skilled workers in employment in Europe.

Today, investment in the adult education sector stands at €40 million, or 2 per cent of the education budget. It's a quantum leap in 10 years, says Brady, but it's time to leap again. AONTAS is lobbying for 10 per cent.

"So far, investment in adult education has been geared towards the labour force. Most of the investment has been channelled into literacy and IT, in order to service the economy. This is important, but adult education can play an even more meaningful role," says Brady.

Like primary schooling, the state's interest in adult education began with a desire to gear students up for the workforce with basic literacy and numeracy skills. Now the sector needs to start fulfilling other functions, in helping to prepare adults to participate more successfully in society.

"The next big thing in adult education will be the development of civil society and active citizenship," Brady contends.

"Now that the argument in favour of lifelong learning has been won, it's time to move the process forward. The Taoiseach has established the Task Force on Active Citizenship because he recognises how important it is for people to be encouraged to play a positive part in their communities. Active citizenship is not just about volunteering and voting.

"Twenty years ago many people, especially women, were active in the kind of learning schemes that were designed to implement change and empower communities. Adult education can play that role again."

[ www.aontas.comOpens in new window ]

Further learning: From 'We' to 'Me' in 20 years

IN the 1980s, when the economy was in a slump, there was huge demand for adult education that doubled as community action. Adult education was a stomping ground for political action, and a community art or craft course often led to the mobilisation of local action groups.

An estimated 30,000 Irish people were involved in the kind of learning that was designed to improve the lot of the community. Community groups, and especially women's groups, got together to learn about political lobbying and representation. There was such a demand for action education that AONTAS produced a handbook called From the Personal to the Politicalto meet the needs of local education groups.

In 2007, that demand has all but disappeared.

According to Kevin Brannigan of Learning Ireland, which operates the website www.nightcourses.com, adult learners are now interested in improving their personal quality of life. Courses in life coaching, health and wellbeing, healing and hypnotherapy are flourishing.

Computer training barely existed in 1987 but it is a staple of adult education today. More and more adults are also studying for the Leaving Certificate, despite the fact that there are multiple routes into further and higher education through Fetac.

The Leaving Cert is a big thing in the Irish psyche. In 1987 few adults felt that they were capable of it, whereas in 2007, the "can-do" factor is strong.

What's hot

Every couple of years there's a fad in adult education that has eager learners rushing to the community centre. In 2005, according to AONTAS, there was a sudden wave of interest in forensic psychology, prompted, they believe, by American television dramas such as CSI Miami. So what's in vogue this year?

•Arab-Israeli conflict studies

•Development studies

•Refugee studies

•Stock market

•Latin and Greek

•Philosophy

•Access to science