Adult Basic Education

If you find reading, writing, working with numbers or using technology is holding you back our Adult Basic Education Service (ABE) is a good starting point for you. 

The ABE Service is a free and confidential service that offers adults the opportunity to take the first step back to education and build their knowledge, skills and confidence.  

Classes are part time and are available during the day and in the evenings and usually run for between 2-8 hours per week. Courses are open to anyone over the age of 16 and not in full time education. Students work at their own pace in small groups.

Places are offered first to adults who left school early, are on social welfare payments or in low paid employment and have been out of education for some time. 

The Adult Basic Education Service offers part-time
courses to adults who want to: 

  • Return to education

  • Brush up on reading, writing, maths and IT skills

  • Improve English language skills (ESOL)

  • Upskill or reskill for work and improve work opportunities

  • Prepare for further study

  • Gain confidence and work towards a QQI certificate

We also offer themed learning courses which are practical and hands-on. Examples of these courses include:

  • Gardening – Garden Design, Container Gardening

  • Health Related Fitness

  • Hairdressing / Blow Drying

  • C.V. Preparation and Interview Skills

  • ESOL: English for speakers of other languages

  • How to use your Smart phone and Tablet

  • Basic Computers – how to use computers in everyday life

What People Are Saying

“‘It is great to be doing things that I’ve never done before!’

“I don’t know what it’s like for other people but it is very embarrassing for me having dyslexia.  As an adult and a mother, I felt I should be able to help my sons when they were at school. Having dyslexia meant I couldn’t help them with their homework. This was very hard for me.  

I find that my problems with reading affects everything. I feel lost when I am faced with paper work. Shopping is difficult – it is hard to identify items – what is in some jars etc. I have had to find my own coping strategies and have learned how to find ways around it.

Coming to adult education classes has helped me a lot. The tutors take more time, in small group classes and one to one support too. The tutor explains things to me in a way that I can understand.

The computer classes helped me an awful lot. I am learning now in a different way. I have learned how to use a keyboard and this is helping me with spellings. I practise spellings and do puzzle books online. I used to get bored easily and enjoy this type of ‘training your brain’. It helps me to stay stimulated.

The classes made a lot of difference to me. I am not as panicky now, and feel more relaxed. I am more sure of myself and am not stressing out like I used to – I feel a lot calmer. I am able to relax and look for the letter. When I don’t understand something that somebody says to me, I ask them to explain what they are saying.

My class is time for me and gets me out of the house. That’s what I like, to get out and look at new things. I have never done this before. It is great to be doing things that I’ve never done before!”

— Kathleen ABE Student

“I always felt inadequate and not as good as others, standing in the background and hoping that no one would notice me.”

“As a child, it was compounded in my brain that I was stupid. I always felt inadequate and not as good as others, standing in the background and hoping that no one would notice me. This lack of self-belief was what I struggled with. On returning to learning, to start with, I was very nervous but everybody was so friendly and it was so different from my early school experience, that I soon found I actually enjoyed being there and looked forward to my classes, the chat and the fun.

The small class size and friendly atmosphere in the Learning Centre made it much easier for me and once I started to get certification for my work, I really began to believe in myself.

Returning to learning was responsible for bringing this change and strength of confidence into my life. It has helped me hugely to put to rest the fears and lack of self-belief in my own abilities. It made such a difference to my confidence after all those years of doubting myself. I am only sorry I didn’t have a service such as this years ago so I could have rebuilt my life before getting to this stage in my life. But better late than never!”

— Mary ABE Student