to be shocked at the demise of adult education?

[Goldfsh]

Now I have an empty nest, I was hoping to start some adult education classes in academic topics that interest me, e.g. history or literature.

Having contacted the two local colleges who used to drop brochures for adult classes through the door, I've learnt that they don't exist any more!

There are some online classes, or courses to get back into work, and some painting type classes - or U3A if you are semi-retired (I am far from that unfortunately!). But no general education classes.

I found this very depressing. I really wanted to learn something new and connect with local people too. AIBU to be shocked that these sorts of classes are a thing of the past?

That's my area but all that's happening in my (quite large) local library is stuff for children and toddlers 🙄

I wasn't talking about "fun". I was talking about adults wanting career changes or to advance their careers with professional qualifications etc., where the lack of specific GCSE or A level subjects (or grades not high enough) prevents them from changing direction/advancing. It's a travesty that there are people unable to change careers or advance their career due to lack of the "right" GCSE or A level subject/grades.

It says a lot about Blair's obsession with his crazy aim of 50% of school leavers going to uni. All resources were directed towards the 16-19 age group and all because he wanted to massage the statistics for growth and GDP and house price growth etc by getting youngsters into huge debt, with the borrowed money being spent on renting a flat and paying tuition fees, so basically using borrowed money to prop up the housing market and finance the growth in universities.

But that can be done online these days.
It makes more sense as I expect numbers wanting to study formal qualifications like GCSEs and A levels as adults isn't that massive so by courses running online mean that it can cover a reasonable amount of students from all over the country in one class.
Average Town College probably wouldn't get the numbers to financially run a class (I can't imagine that 30 adults in one town suddenly decide they want to learn accounting or whatever).

Have you looked up specific clubs/organisations/activities for your interests? I live in a city (not London) which has lots of "adult education" options but some of the better ones are independent. I attend a brilliant weekly language class run by a native speaker and have done quite a few courses (interior design, wine-tasting, pottery) at an independent centre here. Also see if there is anything on meetup.com in your area.

No, it isn't. An adult family member is studying it at college at the moment. I know at least two other people who have also done college courses in accounting in the last few years.

It's Association of Accounting Technicians, by the way.

Are they doing it as a full time course?
I have friends who are doing specific qualifications (not in accounting but other subjects).
They are full time daytime courses aimed at adults (mix of online, in person and on placements).
This is different to doing an evening class for A-level History or whatever.

Those Hampshire library offerings are pretty sparse and almost all during daytime in the week.

Local colleges used to be open in the evenings for working adults to take courses and qualifications.

@Needmorelego online, online, online…

Noooooo!!!! Reminds me of the Covid threads when some posters were trumpeting that there was no need for anything to be in person ever again - that it would be excellent if all cinemas/theatres/pubs were to close forever.

So what if, say, Exploring Plantagenet Jewellery is merely “fun”? I understand that budgetary constraints have rendered such courses obsolete - but it’s depressing if hobby subjects are deemed to be an “unnecessary waste of time”.

What a shame we don’t have paternalistic companies any more; firms are too lean and mean and employees would rather doomscroll at home than study Shakespeare and play table tennis after work (see archive material on Cadburys etc).

Totally agree @MaturingCheeseball

I can see the point that a working adult with a family who needs specific training in support of their career may find it easier to do their qualification online.

But for a lot of people who maybe live alone, work from home or are retired then getting out to something class-based is really important.

@MaturingCheeseball with online I was referring to formal qualifications like GCSEs, btec, A-levels, Open University etc.
In a perfect world these classes would exist in person rather than online but unfortunately the country currently just can't afford it to be funded by councils and unless it's a college in a large town or city I don't think the numbers would be enough.
However I don't think learning things for fun is a waste of time. I think the complete opposite.
I googled some groups/classes/social groups available in my medium size home town (population around 55 thousand).
There's loads available at community groups, art centres, social spaces etc.
It's out there. It's available. There's actually way more available than when I was lonely and bored in my 20s (I am 50 now).
I definitely don't think hobby subjects are a waste of time. I am 100% for hobbies and community/social groups.
I just don't think it should be something funded by the government in a college.

See my response above.
There's plenty of socialising groups/classes available. More than ever these days in my personal opinion.

No, one day a week, and she's got day release from work.

So it's daytime and doing it as part of work?
That's different to evening classes.

I thought about this thread earlier when I was sent an email from the RA advertising a weekend workshop introduction to weaving. I thought I'd sign up for it until I saw the price. £480 for two days!

I tried to get in to a basic maths course to improve my maths and get it up to gcse standards but failed the online test 😂

The evening courses of old were subsidised, weren't they?

Simply, the financial crisis killed it off.

Same here in my South Coast town. A few short hobby courses like photography but no A levels etc. A few very expensive full time 1 year access courses for those wanting go to uni but thats it. Hugely disappointing. Probably much better options in prison.

I'm retired. DH and I go to weekly art classes at our local arts centre (one of the few places around here that does things like that) and apart from the actual learning aspect there's a lovely sense of camaraderie and we also meet up outside of class.
Age ranges are from 40s to 90s, we have people recovering from cancer, widowed people, all sorts.
It's quite pricey but in terms of enjoyment and mental health it's worth it.

The arts centre also runs free art courses for people with learning or mental difficulties and has dementia friendly film showings.

But apart from art there's very little else on offer anywhere.

I'm South Coast too. Have you seen the prices at West Dean College??😱

I did quite a few adult education classes, but by 2008 student numbers were declining, combined with all courses needing some type of qualification and ‘syllabus’ to keep them running. This meant either course work or an exam, I think that did for a lot of the creative courses.
There are courses ‘just for fun’ in my area but as others have said it’s being run by individuals, and on ad-hoc days. Meant to add, I agree with you OP, I’d love there to be AE courses in person not online.

West Dean is v expensive (that building must be hopelessly expensive to run though). My mum went recently and said they've stopped including the food (presumably to get the cost down) but that that's reduced the social atmosphere somewhat.

Short online course list | Professional and Continuing Education https://share.google/Gq4West15rSih07t5

These are offered by the outreach team at Cambridge (you don't have to have been to Cambridge) and are good quality. Half price for state school teachers!

I'd cut all contracts to for-profit companies in all community service-related industries: health, transport, housing, education. Using business models for social infrastructure has stripped us of so much. If profit is the aim then of course everything is cut to the bone.