Nearly 8,000 adults applied for further education courses during the last scholastic year, the majority of them women aged between 30 and 45 who chose to follow classes.
Tony Degiovanni, director of Further Studies and Adult Education within the Education Division, hoped that a similar number would come forward this year to choose from the 160 courses available in 300 classes.
"The division has a long history of providing evening classes and over the years it has changed to face the realities and lifestyles of the day. There is no debate these days that lifelong learning is a must," Mr Degiovanni said.
He was speaking yesterday, together with Education Minister Louis Galea, at the launch of evening classes for adults in the upcoming scholastic year.
The courses, which are open to anyone aged from 15 upwards, offer the usual subjects as well as crafts, lip reading, self-defence, aerobics, starting a business, ballroom dancing, cookery and nutrition among others.
Dr Galea said that the division, together with the Malta College of Arts, Science and Technology, the university and other institutions, offered a variety of academic subjects from basic literacy to 'O' and 'A' levels.
"More people are becoming aware of the need to continue learning throughout life and several institutions are developing programmes catered specifically for adults," he said.
According to the National Statistics Office, 15,000 people attended courses or adult training programmes offered by the many institutions in 2003 - an increase of 32 per cent over the previous year.
Meanwhile, last year 7,653 people attended a class provided by the Education Division, 5,284 of them female.
The division last year also received an overwhelming number of bookings - 8,598 - over the internet, an increase of 90 per cent over the previous year. The number of bookings amounted to more than the number who followed classes since the number in each class was limited.
Dr Galea said the division was working hard to improve basic teaching in literacy and numeracy and a pilot project was underway in collaboration with a parish to teach computer literacy.
A similar scheme was carried out with 10 local councils for 120 people. The Literacy Centre also offered courses to another 300 prospective businessman.
The government has also managed to acquire €125,000 from the EU's social funds to train people in teaching basic education courses and in developing educational material.
"The government has also acquired funds to extend the school of arts in Gozo," Dr Galea said.
He said the Adult Basic Skills Working Group had been set up in February to evaluate the services provided by the sector and propose a strategy and national plan of action. The group's report should be presented to the government in January.
The prospectus for the scholastic year is available at the division premises in Floriana, local councils or through www.eveningclasses.gov.mt. Applications will be received until September 16.