The main problem facing anyone wanting to undertake adult education in Cork city is just how and what to choose from a very wide range of interesting-looking courses.

The City of Cork vocational Education Committee describes Cork as "the learning city", and the availability of so many choices of courses at different levels reinforces this image.

There is everything on offer from basic English literacy to return to study skills to hobbies and homemaking skills to fullscale degrees. Everybody, from school-leavers to senior citizens, has something to choose from.

"Individual needs are complex and diverse, so a voluntary flexible and progressive learning pathway is required for individuals in and between education, training and work," states a guide called "Adult and community education, a guide to lifelong learning", published by the Adult Education Service (telephone 021-273377).

"This learning pathway should promote new and increased second-chance learning opportunities, offering access to flexible accreditation, qualifications and personal and social support."

The strategy is multi-stranded, offering entry to learning from various points on the development ladder.

People who wish to learn but are lacking in learning skills, basic numeracy and literary skills, and/or self-confidence are offered pre-certification courses where the message is that learning is something to enjoy.

In another strand, people who already are able to identify the direction they want to go in can be given personal, educational and vocational guidance. They can then, for example, embark on modular learning such as an NCVA course.

Finally, those who are equipped to participate in structured group learning, and who know what they require, can choose from a range of courses leading on to employment or third level.

The City of Cork and the Adult Education Board have been supporting such newer educational provision strategies for several years. Provision is made through literacy schemes, family resource centres, home school liaison, and groups for travellers, older people and those with disabilities.

Many educational establishments, including second-level community and comprehensive colleges, third-level colleges and community centres, have been designated as Lifelong Learning Centres. Twenty-two of these are based in the community.

Learning does not always have to be for career development and employment, of course. Social and personal skills, and maintenance of health are seen as just as important. For example, it has been recognised in recent years that learning can help older citizens those in the "third age", to use a term imported from continental Europe.

It has been noted that, freed from earning a living and bringing up children, older people can once again concern themselves with their own personal development.

More importantly, if they do not seek out a range of activities and build networks for themselves this may lead to their becoming depressed.

For this section of the population, tuition is provided during the day in art, do-it-yourself, dancing, keep-fit and personal development. And all the usual evening courses are just as much open to them as to people lower down the chronological scale.

There is a huge range of evening courses, as already mentioned (note that all classes are subject to demand from a minimum number of participants). For example, in art there are evening courses in drawing, painting, ceramic, photography, printmaking, stained glass, pottery and art textiles. There is music appreciation, and the possibility of being accepted into choirs and orchestras.

On the jobs and training side, FAS run course in computing, starting your own business, secretarial, tourism and much more. And while most of CERT's courses are run in the day, there are adult evening courses in several aspects of cookery, including gourmet, vegetarian and pastry/cake decoration.

Something that most of us could do with it improving are our time management and study skills and these are covered in "return to learning/education" evening courses in the College of Commerce and Cork IT. These courses also take in communication skills, essay and report writing, interview techniques and so on.

And of course there is the tried and trusted path of taking adult Junior Certificate and Leaving Certificate courses. Most of these are daytime courses, but a limited number of subjects is available in the evening.

Setting the sights even higher, some third level certificates, diplomas and degrees are available from UCC and CIT.