General Education is for everyone!
GENERAL EDUCATION IS FOR EVERYONE
Adding and subtracting, reading and writing – many of us take these skills for granted. We use them every day when buying groceries, catching the bus, filling in a form or writing a letter but many of us need a little extra help with these skills, for many reasons.
You may have left school early to find work, you may have left school early because it just didn’t suit you, English might not be your first language, or you may have changed career direction and simply need to top up, refresh or extend your skills to help in your daily life.
Meet Stewart McCulloch. In 2009, he was awarded his Certificate II in General Education. In 2011, at the age of 18 Stewart has graduated with a Certificate III in General Education for Adults.
Stewart was an A-grade student at primary school. His difficulties started when he joined high school. He found himself the subject of daily bullying and lost his confidence. He would sit in the classroom hiding behind his hair to block out the distractions – the bullying, things flying across the classroom, the shouting and disrespect for teachers and other students. He felt like a number in a large classroom and went quite unnoticed.
His mum suggested ACE for some further learning and Stewart gave it a try. That was 2 years ago. Since then he has rediscovered his enjoyment for Maths and wants to go to Brisbane for further study before pursuing a career in IT.
Stewart says “I’ve made some good friends with like-minded people here. My teacher Chris is awesome; he has a great sense of humour and treats me like an adult. At school, all the teachers were stressed. ACE doesn’t feel like school at all”.
Chris says “teaching students like Stewart makes the job enjoyable. Stewart is an individual with many skills, who wants to learn – it’s a very rewarding experience”.
Stewart’s message to anyone in a similar situation – “try ACE. The teachers are great and it is an alternative to school. My mum says it is money well spent, to see me happy and completing my studies”.
The general education class at ACE is for all ages, from school-leavers to carers and parents, people already in work - all wanting to top up their skills in an environment with like-minded others. The teachers and staff at ACE are all very approachable and supportive.
General Education co-ordinator Kirsten Elliott says, “ACE offers a welcoming atmosphere, with a focus on supporting the individual needs and motivations of every student. We have some students who have been coming back to study with us for almost 10 years – they enjoy being part of a supportive community of learners and they continue to learn new skills to help them in their personal and working lives”.
If you think ACE could be the place for you or someone you know, phone Kirsten Elliott on 02 6622 1903 for a confidential chat about study options.