Adult education is a series of programs and classes that focus on the educational needs of older people. These programs can include General Education Diplomas (GED), citizenship courses, English as a second language as well as advanced education and technical classes. Adult education classes are offered in community colleges, community centers, libraries, and additional public places.
Adult education allows adults to retool their careers as older adults are pursuing careers in teaching and health care in growing numbers. Older adults bring to the classroom not only their educational accomplishments, but experience and wisdom. New careers appeal to adults who fulfill lifelong dreams to teach or explore aspects of the world such as history or fine arts.
Adult education helps people reentering the workforce such as displaced homemakers, mothers with children and single people living on one income. Divorce and other family changes create a need for people to develop skills to make them employable. As family demographics continue to shift, the need for learning and advanced learning becomes more crucial to the ability to provide for self and family members.
Adult Education helps adults with literacy challenges. Reading is a fundamental online games skill some people do not develop. Many adult literacy programs exist through a series of trained volunteers dedicated to helping people overcome the stigma of illiteracy. Adults are offered classes to increase reading, writing and mathematics skills to help them move forward in life.
English as a second language has become popular as immigrants continue to enter the United States. Not only do these adult students learn language, these classes are an important acclimation into American culture. Language, literacy and skills sets are important tools for adults to become contributing members of society and to instill in them a sense of pride and confidence. Adult education provides the opportunity to acquire these tools.