Community education in context in Ireland - Essay Example

Community Education in Ireland From a broad perspective, we can assess community education's meaning as the 'education catered for a particular community within the confines of the community.' Education in the community is not just about education in the community but also the nurturing of the community, which is the primary concern. The method of becoming a component of an existent social network to promote dialogue is branded as informal education in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In these countries, community education possesses a much broader and clear definition, "a method created to enhance the lives of person living together within an area who share alike interests and opportunities determined by their common socioeconomic needs.

" In Ireland, community education need not be confused with adult education. A community school in Ireland is subsidized entirely and directly by the government. In community schools, both academic and vocational programs are available, but at the same time, the facilities are also used by adult education and community education. On the other hand, adult education denotes many things. It is virtually worldwide and the fastest-growing facet of education. In third world countries, adult education is utilized to enhance literacy among the adult populace and at the same time, acquainting them with jobs and with knowledge on how to uphold community development.

Most frequently, adult education is rampant among depressed or impoverished areas where higher education is not in proximity or cannot be afforded. They offer an alternative yet efficient education to bring a halt to illiteracy, unemployment and underemployment. And although governments of countries play a significant role in the promotion of adult education and community education, the United Nations' UNESCO and the International Bureau of Education play the worldwide regulator and promoter of it.

According to the Anne Ryan of the Department of Adult and Community Education of the National University of Ireland, they offer a diverse range of courses inside or outside the campus, certificate or diploma. Their adult education has part-time courses which will give adults a decent qualification at the post-grad level. The department aims to enhance the quality of non-traditional education, and through this, the democratic society is at its best, overpowering the constraints which hinder some individuals to gain education and knowledge; and also hurdling inequalities posed upon them by the other aspects of society.

Adults who did not have the opportunity to go to school because of whatsoever reasons will find haven in community education classes, and utilize their long-oppressed creativity and hunger for knowledge at the same time creating a better opportunity for a better life. Adults who want to attain a vocational degree as well as a bachelor's degree can count on community and adult education, giving them some sort of equality with those individuals who are products of mainstream education. It has been proved that community and adult education have contributed to the overall social transformation of Ireland, economically and educationally speaking, aside from the individual transformation of once-deprived individuals.

This is most probably due to the competency of the educators, as well as its close relationship to the communities. The subjects offered are also taught with the same academic proficiency, and the preparation and research have virtually no difference to those in the mainstream colleges and universities. Education is a necessity for all peoples, regardless of race, religion or socioeconomic status. But inevitably, there are still factors which hinder a small percentage of a country's population from getting their share of education, especially, the social standing.

With the creation of community and adult education, the past scenarios could as well be in oblivion. Community and adult education give light to the darkness caused by inequality.ReferencesAdult Education: An Overview. Retrieved August 17, 2007, from http://www.distance.syr.edu/aeoverview.htmlCommunity Education. 2006. Retrieved August 17, 2007, from http://www.infed.org/community/b-comed.htmlNational University of Ireland, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland Tel: +353 (1) 708 8000. 2006.

Retrieved August 17, 2007, from http://adulteducation.nuim.ie/MissionStatement.shtml O'Brien, S., & Fathaigh, M. 2007. Learning Partnerships for Social Inclusion. Dublin: University College Cork. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 2006. Education Provision in Ireland. New York: United Nations.