We are a dedicated Basic Adult Education Centre, catering for around 650 adults per year. The majority of our students are early school leavers for whom we provide second chance education. For some, this is an opportunity to improve their literacy skills for themselves, for others, it’s to attain accreditation and improve their employment prospects. Our students are primarily from North Inner City Dublin, but we also have a vibrant English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) programme catering for those learning English with little or no education in their own language.
We provide a warm, understanding and engaging learning environment tailored to the needs of adults. Our team of experienced staff, tutors and volunteers are always willing to listen and encourage each student. Our classes are free, part-time and flexible.
We hold tutor seminars and an annual conference for students and tutors and a summer programme. We are enthusiastic participants in the annual Aontas Adult Learner Festival.
Our work is honed to the needs of our students and in response to those needs we have produced a range of student readers at a variety of levels, which are available on request. We also have carried out research on men’s participation in literacy programmes in DALC and the progress of one to one students in DALC.
We have produced a number of tutor manuals and our tutors have been involved in the writing of a number of NALA publications.
What our students say about D.A.L.C.:
- “My opinion of school is changed since I started thanks to my teachers and the good people of DALC. This is a great place with great people and great things will come out of here I’m sure.”
- “This is my chance to learn. I have the independence and confidence as an adult to come here. I’m enjoying it.”
- “I worked all my life. I didn’t realise how much I was missing right through life until I came here and got an education.”