Whatever happened to Adult Education classes?

We have a lot. I would like to do a language. My problem is that they all start in September and I go on holiday as soon as the schools go back every year. I wish they started in November and then I would do one.
U3A do a lot without the cost of local authority.

People who couldn't complete their education from elementary school, can continue their education with the help of educational institutes, is called adult education. This facility is provided by <a href="http://www.hermods.se/">Hermods</a>. You can visit there.

AS has been said funding for all classes was reduced and a requirement for assessment and achievement recording was made essential. My Tai Chi teacher used to do a class for the LEA. She is an excellent teacher and runs private classes in church halls all over town. She stopped working for the LEA because they wanted her to sign a piece of paper admitting that she was a failing teacher and she refused so they couldn't employ her. What had she done? Not completed the register properly at every session she sometimes just counted numbers and filled in the register at home!

Teetime! Lord no they didn't. As I'm doing German, we do read a few fairy tales in their native language though. I'm wondering what particular class you went to? Apologies, as I shouldn't really have compared my local group with one that I don't know.

Teetime
Perhaps I'm not missing out by the fact my nearest U3A is 25 miles away

I've just looked at our local U3A. They seem to have a lot going on but I don't want to learn French, Dutch or Italian, go for group walks, play bridge or scrabble, write, read plays or any of the other (I'm sure great fun) activities they have on offer.

I want to learn how to change spark plugs or oil or air filters. I want to look into my engine and have an idea why it might not be working. I want to know how to check simple things rather than have to pay someone to do it for me.

Why should some courses only be available to 16 to 19 year olds? Could it be so that the gov can massage the youth unemployment figures by saying they're still in education?

I feel like I want to stomp my foot and throw a proper paddy

bella I said our U3A not yours! I don't expect yours sat round singing to nursery rhymes at the last meeting did it?

I have just got home from my evening class in the Maori language. We are in our second term. Of the 12 who started the beginners' class in February, only one has dropped out because of work and family commitments and a new one (our only man) has joined a bit late in the day (he has caught up very quickly). We pay NZ$60 (about £30) per term of ten lessons, each lesson being from 6–8.30.

We not only learn the language – although we are all still at a fairly basic level – but about Maori history and culture too. We are approaching Matariki, the Maori New Year. Next Tuesday we shall be celebrating with "shared food" – we all bring something – and the lesson will focus on the traditions and beliefs about Matariki.

I am finding this utterly fascinating and very demanding – but I am always assiduous about my homework – and have made a group of new friends. This is not a government-run course but organised by a Maori society that is committed to preserving and increasing the use of what it calls taku reo rangatira my noble language. And now I live here and this is one of New Zealand's three official languages, it is also my language, even though I am still limited to simple statements, such as the red table is there and the green chairs are here!

Oh, that's a bit harsh, Teetime! Our U3A has a wide age range of attendees. In a language class I go to, three are late 50s, and the rest mainly 60s, with the oldest being a very lively 80. There is a country dancing group where quite a lot of energy is required, and a walking group, where ditto. Maybe some of the other classes attract a preponderance of more elderly people, but certainly the ones I've been to don't.
WEA used to be good, but I know our London borough has reduced the classes quite savagely, as has the local authority its AE classes.

I used to love evening classes especially in the Winter but there is not much left of them here- some Word Processing and a few GCS's. I think they just got too expensive once the subsidies were removed. The Open University also is priced well beyond reach now. I am hopeful that our local college which has had a massive refurbishment and a refocus is going to offer some specialised cookery courses in the autumn - they do floristry and some horticulture but that's it really. Our U3A is a joke- University of the Living Dead.

vampirequeen I know what you mean, we used to have evening classes for car maintenance, I think the trouble is now that cars are so advanced and have to be linked up to the computer etc but as op have said Gov cut backs.

Many years ago myself and a friend enrolled on a 12 full time "Motor Vehicle Technology" course, it was great, but it was more theory rather than manual, we all got our City and Guilds Certificate , it was a brill 12 months,,, and when the men saw all 10 of us all marching down the corridors in our blue boiler suits, steel toe capped boots (elf n safety) and carrying our tool boxes, they would all stand to one side,

I wanted to do car maintenance but the courses are only for 16-19 year olds who want to see if like working with cars.

I want the old course where you learned about basic DIY repairs and servicing.

Basic adult education is for who need primary grades. There are basic courses in English which includes mathematics, social studies etc. For more information you can chceck the following link:
www.hermods.se/utbildningar-och-tjanster/vuxenutbildning/

What a shame one of my sisters doesn't live in your area, she only does afternoon classes! You could try ringing all the teachers and asking them to consider doing an afternoon class, but many of them have to fit the classes around childcare and often have to stop when a full-time job opportunity comes up, as my village has discovered. We have had new instructors every couple of years.

I would love to take up yoga again. It is years since I did any. Our local adult education classes take place in several different venues as this is a rural area. I need a class in the afternoon as I go to bed early in the evening to be up for work at 04.00 Guess what, no afternoon yoga available at any of the venues.

WEA died in my area as I moved here, sadly. In fact when I went to their HQ 6 years ago the only course available was english for immigrants. But U3A is just starting up this year, and looks quite promising.

Thank you for that, some of them look really interesting.

Future Learn has an excellent range of free online courses from top universities and cultural institutions.

Do they go all nimbyish, buffersmoll and say "can't do that there 'ere" to classes? They do sound odd. I have always found that people want more adult education classes wherever they are, big city or out where the air and water are new.

It is not economic, of course, to put on hundreds of different classes when the number of people within reach of them with their own transport is not going to fill them up and pay for them. A car is essential when the bus routes are for the benefit of the bus companies, not the passengers.

Do you get no contact at all from your neighbours? It sounds as though that pleases you. Did you move out of London against your will?

Ah London!!! One can take 'the girl out of London' but can't take London out of the ........
In the deep dark districts where you 'can't do that there e're' in retuurn for tranquility one must do with out or the W I.

In London there was a choice of classes or different Boroughs classes.

Down among the NIMBY one has to be greatful for the lack of contact inforced by the lack of busses to get where. I'm sure mrsmopp is right though
come the need to teach to others............

It all happened when they took the Community out of Community Education...

I agree the adult education classes are very expensive now. As others have said, it's this obsession with making people "employable" that has caused it. It seems short sighted to me, given that people are living longer, and research has shown that keeping active, engaging with the community and having interests prolongs physical and mental health.

I go to a WEA theatre studies class, which is enjoyable and cheaper than AE. I think they have a pretty good choice of classes, particularly in and around cities. I also go to the Mary Ward Centre near Holborn, Central London, for a Creative Writing class, which is reasonably priced.

Online courses are very good but don't provide an opportunity to be part of a sociable group - chatting and discussing things that you're studying.

Why not do an online course, like to Love to Learn ones on Gransnet? They are always available when you have a spare 30 mins or so, and reasonably priced

Try your local U3A for courses..........its amazing what some offer. They are a bit more 'self-help' but depending on who leads them they can be great fun and fascinating.

How about trying the WEA - http://www.wea.org.uk/

Not sure but I think they might be part of Learning for Life - we have one in Newcastle and I'm looking forward to retiring so I can try both U3A and Learning for Life Centre.