Community Education FAQs
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The Community Education Network (CEN) was established in 2007 by AONTAS. It is a network of over 100 independently managed community education providers who work collaboratively, sharing information and resources, engaging in professional development and working to ensure that community education is valued and resourced.
Working and learning in a partnership with tutors and coordinators
Equal participation and equal rights
Empowerment and development of self-confidence
Inclusion of disadvantaged groups
Flexibility and being centred around the needs of the learner
Setting learners up to succeed and, if they want to, progress to other forms of education and higher levels of qualifications.
Community education is adult learning which takes place in local community settings across Ireland. It is learner-centred and responds to the needs of the local community.
Community education has a track record of effectively engaging with people who wish to return to education but may not have the confidence or opportunity to do so in a formal setting.
Click on the videos below to hear more about what community education is about:
There are hundreds of organisations across the island of Ireland who provide community education to thousands of learners in every local community. To find out contact details and locations near you Click Here or download the One Step Up Information Booklet and see pages 41-48.
Your local Education and Training Board (ETB) may also provide Community Education. To find out more you can go to your local ETB and contact your nearest Adult Education Guidance Service
Also visit the Further Education and Training Course Hub (FETCH) to search for courses near you: www.fetchcourses.ie
There may be a number of financial supports open to you. Possible options can be discussed privately and confidentially with your local Adult Education Guidance Service to make sure you receive all the most up to date and accurate information, as well as help you may need with making an application to receive social welfare payments.
Community education provides a safe, supportive and flexible learning space that’s sets you up to succeed. If you feel that personal development, self-confidence, developing skills to help you learn are important then community education may be a perfect fit for you in your return to education and potential lifelong learning journey.
The best thing to do is contact your local Adult Education Guidance Service to discuss this option in more detail.
Time commitments will vary depending on the kind of learning you are doing. Most courses are part-time and can occur once a week or a few times per month.
Many learners will have to attend a set number of classes or participate in a certain amount of activities. Importantly, community education is flexible to your learning needs and every effort is made to cater to your family, caring and financial circumstances. Community education meets the learner where the learner is at in order to provide an experience that best suits them.
The best thing to do is to directly contact your local community education provider. To find contact details for your local community education provider Click Here
You can also ask your local Adult Education Guidance Service for more information. Click Here to find contact details.
This depends on the kind of learning you are participating in and the specific course you decide to do. The best thing to do to find out if you will receive any accreditation is to contact your local community education provider or ask your local Adult Education Guidance Service for more information.
For more information on accreditation Click Here.
To find contact details for your local community education provider Click Here
To find out contact details and locations near you Click Here or contact your local Education and Training Board.
Absolutely. Community education provides a safe, supportive and flexible learning space that’s sets you up to succeed. If you feel that personal development, self-confidence, and developing skills that help you to learn are important, like improving reading and writing, then community education may be a perfect fit for you in your return to education and lifelong learning journey.
The best thing to do is contact your local Adult Education Guidance Service to discuss your community education options in more detail and how community education can support you to progress on to other kinds of education and levels of qualifications.
Community education is also an excellent first step on your learning pathway towards accessing a college or university and getting a Third-level qualification.