“It’s put years on my life and life in my years” may sound like the experience of someone who has just drank from the fountain of youth. In fact, it is feedback from one older learner on their experience of returning to education, according to Aontas, the national adult learning organisation.

In Ireland, an estimated 300,000-plus adults take part in adult learning each year. Berni Brady, Aontas director, says that the first thing to realise is that it’s never too late to learn.

Education has plenty of benefits, apart from filling empty winter days or learning something new. According to a 2008 Aontas report Don’t Stop Me Now, older people identified the social aspect of learning as its greatest benefit. As well as new friendships, research has identified a link between education and health.

“Twenty years ago, Aontas carried out research on older people that identified adult education as a way of helping older people cope with the problems they face as they age – returning to learn is not only about learning new skills but also about learning how to cope with change,” Brady says.

Adult learners, she notes, report a number of different outcomes, such as gaining confidence earning qualifications and improving their career prospects. There are also less quantifiable outcomes – such as a greater interest in your child’s education, greater community engagement, environmental awareness or gaining an understanding of different cultures.

If you’ve been out of formal education for 30 or 40 years, there’s no need to worry that you’re not ready for a full-time degree. “Adult and community education courses are a great way to get started and quite different to a formal education setting,” says Brady. “You’ll get great support from the tutors, as well as others in the class, who are all in the same situation.”

Brady recommends starting with something small to build up your confidence. “Many accredited courses now include modules on study skills – courses are actually developed and delivered in the knowledge that it may be some time since learners have been in a formal education setting.”

There are also plenty of options for those who want to brush up on their literacy or numeracy skills.

Back to school checklist

• The Aontas Information Booklet outlines a variety of options open to adult learners. It is available for download on www.aontas.com.
• For information on courses taking place, check out www.daycourses.com or www.qualifax.ie (the National Learners’ Database).
• Adult education officers in local VECs will inform you of the programmes that operate in every VEC.
• The Adult Education Guidance Initiative is a free service with 38 guidance projects throughout the country (see www.ncge.ie).
• The admissions or access officers in third-level institutions can offer advice.
• Contact organisations such as Fás www.fas.ie and the National Adult Literacy Association www.nala.ie
• Local Employment Services (LES) employ mediators who help people on a one-to-one basis. Local area-based partnership companies may have an education officer to promote the participation of people in third-level/second-chance or further education.