Adult Literacy & Basic Education

Adult Literacy and Basic Education provides free and confidential group classes and one-to-one tuition for adults who wish to improve their reading, writing, spellings, maths, or basic computer skills.

Kerry ETB Literacy Service offers a range of programmes that include literacy and numeracy, family learning, English to speakers of other languages (ESOL) and workplace basic education. The service also provides Intensive Tuition in Adult Basic Education (ITABE) that offers the learner the opportunity to access intensive literacy and numeracy tuition.

The ABE Adult literacy service is organised by 5 Adult Literacy Organisers and delivered in 8 centres across the county. Our 8 centres are Tralee, Killarney, Listowel, Castleisland, Dingle, Kenmare, Caherciveen and Killorglin.

All courses on offer can lead to certification at level 1, 2 and 3

Classes are free, confidential and part time (2 hours per week)

Classes are held during the day, evening and online

Some classes can include blended learning i.e. online and in class

Learn at your own pace in a small group or one to one tuition if needed

We can start from where you are at and build your confidence.

Adult Literacy - Kerry ETB

Personal Development and Life Skills

Learn about getting the best out of life. Start fresh with courses like:
Personal and Interpersonal Skills
Time for Me
Employability Skills
Learning to Learn
Nutrition and Health
Health and Wellbeing
Driver Theory

Read, Write and Spell
Brush up on your basic skills

Take the first step to improve your:

Reading, Writing
Listening & Speaking
Communications
Spelling and Grammar
Gain confidence and work towards a recognised certificate
Up-skill or re-skill for work

Technology
Technology is the future. We teach a range of Information and Communication Skills (ICT) to adults who have literacy difficulties, in small friendly groups. We aim to encourage and support the learner who lacks confidence in this area, helping them to become part of our digital society. Our classes run from absolute beginner to QQI Level 3, across the county in a range of settings.

Some courses on offer:
Beginners computers
Smart Technology i.e. iPad, smartphone
Learn to use the Internet and Email
Spreadsheets, PowerPoint Presentation
Word Processing
Digital Media
Learn with NALA Online

Family Learning
Parents are their child’s first educators. Family learning programmes encourage and support parents, grandparents, guardians and caregivers who recognise the importance of supporting children to learn both in school and at home. It also encourages them to work on their own literacy and numeracy skills.

Family learning participants are aware that-

learning takes place at home as well as in school
children need support to engage with learning opportunities
it is important that they work in partnership with their child’s teacher
by improving their own skills they’re helping their child to learn too
learning is a life -long experience

Some courses on offer:
Healthy Eating / Food Nutrition
Help my kids learn
Irish for Parents
Dads and lads
Woodwork
Social Media awareness

Maths, Money and Numbers

Maths is all around us, let us take the fear out of Maths for you in developing your Mathematical eyes

Some courses on offer:
Everyday Maths
Family Budgeting
Quantity and Numbers
Mathematics

Skills for Work
The Skills for Work Programme is a part-time education and training initiative. It is aimed at people who are in employment, who may have left school early or whose skills may be out of date. The project aims to upgrade the skills, enhance the career prospects, and promote the educational advancement of adult workers who have minimum levels of formal education. It also aims to promote awareness of the value of lifelong learning throughout adult life.

Course details:
Improve your confidence at work
This is a free programme for employers and employees
Courses can be tailored to suit workplace needs
22 hours of tuition takes place, over a number of weeks at a time suitable to all.

Some courses on offer:
English Language
Computers
Customer Care
Communication Skills
Food Industry
Personal Development
Farming – online

English Language Support (ESOL)
Kerry Education and Training Board offers English Language classes to speakers of other languages at a variety of locations around the county. The Kerry Adult Literacy and Basic Education Service offers free ESOL classes at beginners level across the county to unemployed adults and asylum seekers.

If you can join our courses, we will help you get International English Certification or QQI

Covers reading, writing, listening & speaking

Intensive Tuition in Adult Basic Education (ITABE)
The Intensive Tuition in Adult Basic Education (ITABE) project provides an intensive tuition opportunity to adults who wish to improve their Key Skills. The aim of the programme is to provide participants, in groups of 6-8 students, with an opportunity to access six hours of tuition per week over a 14-week period as opposed to the average of two hours per week currently provided.

The ITABE course includes a combination of the following:

Communication Skills: Reading / Writing / Spelling / Numeracy
Learning to Learn: Understanding Learning Styles / Study Skills / Educational Guidance
Introduction to IT: Basic Computers / Internet

Students are given the opportunity to gain QQI accreditation if they so choose but this is an option and not a course requirement. All participants must have their literacy / numeracy skills assessed at the beginning and end of the course using a specifically designed assessment tool. This assessment helps the tutors to design a course to meet the student’s needs.

If you would like more information on all the courses on offer in your area please contact your local Adult Literacy Organisers or log onto www.fetchcourses.ie to see the list of courses available in your local area.

Caherciveen ABE Centre
O’Connell Further Education and Training Centre, Caherciveen, Co. Kerry V92 X235
Deirdre Fitzgerald
Email: Killorglinabe@staff.kerryetb.ie
Tel: 086 046 0506
Phone: 066 9473166

Castleisland ABE Centre
Community Centre, R577, Killegane, Co. Kerry V92 W525
Mary Barrett Swaine
Email: listowelabe@staff.kerryetb.ie
Tel: 086 7969627

Dingle ABE Centre
Dingle Further Education and Training Centre, Rice House, Goat Street, Dingle, Co, Kerry. V92 F952
Email: evelyn.long@staff.kerryetb.ie
Phone: 066 9152361

Kenmare ABE Centre
Further Education and Training Centre, Bell Height, Kenmare Co. Kerry V93 K5CV
Maggie O’Sullivan Graham
Email: kenmareabe@staff.kerryetb.ie
Tel: 086 8279248
Phone: 064 6642728

Killarney ABE Centre
37 High Street, Killarney, Co. Kerry V93 NTC0
Elaine Clifford
Email: elaine.clifford@staff.kerryetb.ie
Tel: 064 6636990
Mobile: 086 7969625

Killorglin ABE Centre
Dalys Lane, Main Street, Killorglin, Co. Kerry V93 RT2
Jacqueline O Gorman
Email: jogorman@kerryetb.ie
Tel: 086 010 6413

Listowel ABE Centre
The Butler Centre, 12 the square, Listowel, Co. Kerry V31 ET 91
Mary Barrett Swaine
Email: listowelabe@staff.kerryetb.ie
Tel: 086 7969627
Phone: 068 23866

Tralee ABE Centre
Adult Literacy and Basic Education, Room 2A, Floor 1, Liber House, Monavalley Industrial Estate, Tralee, Co. Kerry V92 YX9H
Ed O’Connor
Email: traleeabe@staff.kerryetb.ie
Phone: 086 074 9786