First Northern Ireland community education census aims to support learning providers

The first-ever census of community education in Northern Ireland will provide evidence of the huge benefits of this particular type of education for communities and families. This can be used to help demonstrate the need for reliable, sustainable funding and political support for the sector.

Benefits of Getting Involved

Adults across Northern Ireland who are returning to education currently access most of their learning through local community organisations, but the impact of the voluntary and community sector’s role in education for adults has long been under-researched. This means it is under-resourced and its impact on people’s lives and communities is not actively recognised by policymakers and politicians.

AONTAS have been working with community learning organisations in Northern Ireland over the last year to develop the ideas behind this census, so that adult education will become an important part of Government strategy once the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly is restored and fully functional.

Sandra Bailie, Head of Organisational Development in NICVA (the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action), said:

“Many of our members fulfil the vital role of providing community education throughout Northern Ireland. In fact, advancement of education is the top area of work of charities on the Charity Commission NI database with over 15% of them working in this crucial area.

We fully support this initiative which is providing support and strengthening the adult and community education sector.

It will be an important evidence base to lobby decision-makers, encourage collaboration, and demonstrate the undoubted value of community education.

We urge all organisations supporting adult learning to fully engage and take part. Their voice is essential in shaping services for the future.”

This NI census follows a similar one carried out by AONTAS in the Republic of Ireland in 2020, which led to improvements in funding and resources for community education.

Get Involved

The online survey is open to all organisations in the voluntary and community sector who deliver adult learning. The census gathers details like the numbers of learners involved in programmes, the type of courses, whether they are accredited or non-accredited, funding arrangements, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis on the sector. The impact of a learner’s socio-economic context and educational experience – as well as value of holistic, non-accredited provision – is central to AONTAS’s view of community education, in addition to accreditation, employment, and progression to further education.

Start the survey here

The survey closes on Thursday, 6 April 2023.

Focus groups will be held from March to May of this year, to delve deeper into the issues that come up in the survey responses.

The overall results of the census will be shared in September.