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?

Like some of the posters upthread I taught computer skills in an FE night school class in the early 1990s to help fund my postgrad studies.. I taught adult students to do word processing and database. Some of the students had never used a computer and I became interested in how they interacted with the machines. Human computer interaction was an exciting new subject in those days and the data I gathered was incorporated into my masters and later my doctorate. The college had classes in a range of other subjects and I am sad to see that these have declined. This was in central Manchester.

@Goldfsh
If your DH can already speak Spanish and is looking to be able to chat in the language - have a google of language exchanges, my understanding is that these can either be for single language or multiple languages and people sign up, and are put into small groups or pairs to practice languages so it may be a Spanish and English person, giving both people chance to practice each other’s language.

This is sad to read. I had plans for my retirement to study.

Not just for jobs as some say on here or to better yourself but just for the pure joy of learning.

wouldnt work as an evening course but my old uni runs this fabulous scheme for those with a bit more time. A life goal for me when I don’t have kids or a business to worry about!

www.egyptology-uk.com/bloomsbury/

It happened in 2010. Austerity. There was previously a very good Lifelong Learning Strategy.

Northern city suburb

A couple of florists do flower arranging and wreath making classes

There’s a woman who runs various DIY classes for women only

A women’s club at a local bar. They also
run a men’s club, board game club, book club

Conversation classes in several languages at a local community hub cafe

Art class at the library

there are various places that do in depth classes on floristry, jewellery making, blacksmithing

you can do horticulture at the RHS gardens

membership libraries, museums, independent arts centres all have stuff

my mother in law is in multiple theatre groups and acting classes. She’s directing a play as a result

there’s a lot about but not structured courses in colleges

How did it happen? The fucking tories and ideological austerity.

Massive cuts to council budgets from central government, this combined with the cost of adult social care means that councils can no longer afford to run adult education

In the early 90s, I did A level Archaeology at evening classes, early 2000s I did maths GCSE, Access and Day Skipper at various times. I thought about doing something this year, looked and there was nothing. Gutted.

But the reason they are no longer on offer is because when subsidies were cut people weren't willing to pay the true cost for it - lots of posters on this thread reminicising about very affordable classes /courses and remembering taking multiple - that was only possible because they were heavily subsidised so offered at a very affordable price point for people.

It was basically the goverment subsidising and enabling nice hobbies for people rather than them having to fund them themselves. Its absolutely still possible to do these sorts of courses eg floristry, cake decorating, photography, languages - you simply have to pay a lot more now and do a bit of research to find the courses/providers, and its likely to be a smaller group because its expensive.

If the demand was there and people were willing to pay the true cost of the course, these things would still be on offer.

Just out of interest, what would people have the government cut instead, in order to increase funding for adult education to restore this sort of thing?

I run Italian evening classes at my local community centre. I'm struggling to get clients, please come along!

Part of the reasoning is going to be demand as well though, just because some people online would like these classes; it doesn’t automatically mean there’s enough demand in your local area to justify running the class.

ultimately everything is a business and the adult education providers will have to balance running such classes with the cost involved.

i highly disagree that there isn’t much scope for adult education though. There’s just different words for it eg “skills bootcamp”. There’s a lot of government funded schemes and you might have better luck checking the gov.uk website or national career’s service.

Where I live, the local secondary school offers adult education classes in lots of different subjects. I did their French course a few years ago and learned a lot from it. They do lots of different languages, art, dancing - you name it, there's a class for it.

Just to add, the courses are quite pricey.

You're absolutely right - it's so sad.

Couple of ideas that we have locally in a small city in the Midlands - look for courses put on by museums - we have regular jewellery-making ones.

Independent cinemas sometimes have film courses - I went on one about Film Noir a few years ago which was really interesting.

Join a book group based in a city centre or a library - ime these tend to be more book-focused than wine and gossip-focused. . Although it's not quite the same, it is definitely a place to meet people and talk about literature.

gawd I feel you. I remember going through that catalogue and doing courses in creative writing, easy car mechanics, art, pottery, drama...That was in the nineties when I was young and bored living in the suburbs. I started looking again last year as my kids were both at uni and I wanted to do some DIY ones like basic woodworking, basic plumbing, tiling etc. Thought pickings would be better as I live in a town now and near to several other decent sized towns. There is nothing at all near me and the nearest ones are ££££ for a one day or you commit to a week.

I have a couple of online open uni ones on the go but it's not the same as sitting in a draughty church hall or community centre with a class made up of all sorts eager to learn. I guess most of the community centres and youth clubs have been closed.

Completely agree with you. Nothing here now, and I remember language courses, and humanities and all sorts of crafts 20 years ago.

Our library does some daytime language classes.

I used to love looking through my Mum's adult education catalogues when I was young. There was everything from archaeology to typing to flower arranging. My Mum did loads of evening classes and even took her Maths A-level this way. I did yoga and Italian evening classes through the local council in the mid 2000s so unsurprising to find out it tailed off during the Austerity period.

I was looking recently at what was on offer for adult learners as my autistic teen DC suffers very badly with her mental health and isn't able to attend school. I am often told there's plenty of time for her to get qualifications when she's older if she can't manage now but actually that isn't true. It's almost impossible to take any GCSEs other than English or Maths if you don't pass them at school and even then the time frame is limited. There is little or no opportunity to go on and study A-Levels as an adult.

I'm in Hampshire, where are you?

The government reduced the subsidies for over-19s taking FE evening courses. This meant that colleges had to put the prices up for adult learners instead, which in turn meant reduced numbers of applications from adult learners. That meant the courses couldn't run because of limited numbers, and now there are no evening courses.

I can date this so precisely, because I had to drop my plans to do a particular evening A-level course. Yes, I am still bitter.

I'm in the same boat. Divorced a couple of years ago, with a 50:50 coparenting arrangement. Thought it would be a great opportunity to enroll on some courses, to learn new skills and meet new people. Not a chance! Very disappointing.

I have just had a look at Warrington and Vale Royal College, whilst there is no humanities or English Language etc they do have quite a few courses ranging from MOT checking, Spanish, floristry, wall building etc.

I was pleasantly surprised considering Warrington council is terrible at financial management (they have the highest debt of all the councils in England).

The courses are around £55 for 6 weeks. I wonder how they can offer them when others can't.

I feel the same OP. I'm in NZ and it's just the same here. I used to look forward to the little books we got at the beginning of each year listing the numerous courses we could take at the local secondary school in the evenings. So much fun browsing and choosing which one to do, and I did quite a few over the years. I think it's really sad that these are no longer available, and we are all the poorer for it.

That is a really interesting programme - thanks!

I actually think this is the wrong question.

I think a better question is 'what is the cost of removing adult education classes?'

In my area there is a very expensive health programme tackling 'loneliness' which is thought to be behind a lot of GP visits. Look at the cost of menopause. Look at the rising rates of depression, worklessness in older people, the decline of volunteering and local democracy, the lack of community cohesion.

No, I'm not saying that adult education would fix all of this, but it was an area where people came together to better themselves, with like-minded people - probably the people that end up doing all the voluntary work, deciding to improve their local communities, making friendships, improving community cohesion, building relationships.

Most of us have said we are bored and want to learn and make new social connections. Adult education is a good place to do that.