Wealth of adult courses on offer

Are you fired up by car engines but don't know your carburettor from your camshaft? Have you always dreamt of owning you own business but don't know where to start?

Is there an artist inside you waiting to get out? Do you want to get fit, learn to dance, make yourself look more beautiful...?

Perhaps you're looking to return to work or enhance your career prospects with an academic qualification. Or maybe you simply want to start a new hobby/deepen an old interest/find another way of spending those boring winter evenings in front of television.

Whatever your motivation, adults of all ages who don't believe in stopping learning could well find a class that suits them among the more than 300 that the Education Division's Department of Further Studies and Adult Education is opening for applications on Monday.

Last year more than 9,000 people between the ages of 15 and 75 learned something new in life thanks to the courses offered by the department.

The courses are divided into different categories. One category is made up of a large number of academic subjects leading to secondary, intermediate or advanced level exams.

A second category, 'adult courses', mainly comprises languages - Italian, French, English, Maltese, and the latter two also for foreigners - as well as mathematics and 'O' level revision classes.

Three other categories contain specialised courses in art, engineering and information technology.

The art subjects range from artistic creativity for beginners to sculpture in wood and stone; the engineering courses include a class in motor mechanics; and the IT subjects are mainly for those who would like to obtain a European Computer Driving Licence, although there is also a computer awareness course for absolute beginners.

In the category called 'other courses' are to be found a wide range of hobby-type subjects, among others.

Classes such as beading techniques, lace-making and clothing craft would probably be dominated by women, as would beauty care, flower arranging and keep fit (although an aerobics class for males is also on offer).

Other classes would appeal to both sexes. How to set up and succeed in business is a new addition to the prospectus. There is also ju-jitsu self-defence; ballroom dancing; cookery and nutrition; lip reading; Maltese sign language; upholstery, woodworking... And most of them are aimed at pure beginners!

Some courses are 14 weeks in length, others 32, and they are held at a number of centres in various areas.

Information can be found in the prospectus Korsijiet ghall-Adulti 2003-2004, which is available from the Customer Care Unit of the Education Division, local councils, district libraries or online at www.eveningcourses.gov.mt. Tel. 21235356

So this winter, why don't you rediscover the joy of learning!