September represents the beginning of a new school year - but it won't just be the children returning to the classroom.

Many of those taking advantage of the opportunity to learn new skills have been out of school longer than they care to admit, but the opportunity has never been greater as that being offered by the Community Education and Development Programme. People in their thirties and forties, even sixties and seventies, are jumping at the chance to sign up for the various classes being offered at various centres around the Island... from accounting to ballroom dancing, to gardening, to self defence.

Many participants are looking to brush up on their job skills to make them more competitive in the workplace, while some of the senior citizens just enjoy the social interaction. Either way, there are classes for everybody.

As a perk, the "golden ages" (65 and over), can enrol in classes free, except for the computer classes which still remains one of the most popular courses.

"Within the first week the computer courses are usually oversubscribed," said Patricia Chapman, Executive Officer at the Warwick Community School Centre.

"We do have to turn people away and put them on a preferred waiting list."

This year the newly introduced Pilates class being offered by noted dancer Sophia Cannonier is proving one of the most popular. It was fully booked after just the first two days of registration with all 20 spots taken. And the belly dancing class, also new, is also filling up fast! There are a number of new courses introduced this year, with boxing's basics being taught by former professional middleweight Troy Darrell. Interested in the history of African art, West African cooking, or business and social etiquette? You can learn that, too.

"It is lifelong learning, what we teach you here is something you will have for life," promised Mrs. Chapman, a former educator who has been with the Warwick Community Centre for eight years.

Now there are four main Centres around the Island - Spice Valley Middle School in Warwick, Sandys Middle School, Clearwater Middle School at Southside, St. David's and CedarBridge Academy - with classes held at various other locations.

From it's beginning in Warwick Secondary - now Spice Valley - in 1979, it has now grown into a seven-days-a-week programme.

"Initially we started out just here (Warwick) and then Sandys and St. George's came on board within the next three years following," explained Mrs. Chapman. "Lifestyles have changed over the years and the stresses of society have put more pressures, particularly on families, and people are weighing their options of doing things for personal development versus working two and three jobs to pay the bills.

"On our registration form we attach a survey questionnaire asking `how did you find the programme, would you recommend it, what can we do to enhance the programme, have you taken courses before' and a good third of our clientele are repeats."

Added Mrs. Chapman: "We conducted a survey last November in the Sandys area and what we found was, particularly the seniors, they wanted more leisure and social activities. For the age group 35 to 45 they wanted skill sets and knowledge that can help them better prepare for today's job market.

"Accounting, bookkeeping, supervisory management, any type of computer course that you can think of, that's what they are coming to do.

"Remember, we're talking 22 years ago (since the programme was launched) and technology has increased. Then you had the typewriters, but now you have the computers and while you may still be the receptionist, you have to be multi-tasked and learn more things. Now you have employers who recommend to new employees or long term employees that they need to improve of enhance their skills. They will sponsor them and send them to us."

The courses offered in the Community Education and Development Programme generally run for ten weeks, though there are some of shorter duration called mini workshops. Credits are not offered, but new skills can still be learned, and in a more informal setting.

"It's what we call self-help and personal development," stressed Mrs. Chapman.

"You might want to stay ahead, stay with the trend and be just as sophisticated in the job market as everybody else, but not necessarily do a two-year programme or get a degree."

The programme, which is sponsored by the Ministry of Community Affairs and Sport and the Ministry of Education, is designed to meet the needs of the community and is open to anyone wishing to teach a course or workshop (no college degree necessary). Those within the CEDP are also open to suggestions on courses that could be offered. Gift certificates are even available for community education courses.

"Our guide for feedback is from the people in the community, they know what they need," said Mrs. Chapman.

"We don't like to design a course and say `we think you need this'. We like to get a feel for what they need and want, where is it going to take them. We ask the instructors out there in the field what's new and what type of people are you looking for?

"We ask them `can you teach this class or know someone who can teach the class' and one way or the other they will come in and give a proposal and the coordinators and I will sit down and give it a description and advertise it. If it is what the public wants to do they will definitely take advantage of it."

Anyone wanting to be an instructor of a course must have "exceptional knowledge in their subject area and be able to deliver it well," said Mrs. Chapman.

Registration for classes began on Monday of this week and will run until September 6, with classes beginning ten days later on September 16 and ending on the week of November 18.

Two free courses are being aimed at the Island's youth, one called Hands on Adventuring which was started last year in co-operation with the Bermuda Regiment, Fire Service, Prison Service, St. John's Ambulance Brigade and Police. It is aimed at youth between 14 and 18 and is an opportunity to see first-hand how these Bermudian service organisations and to maybe consider careers in those fields.

A new programme this year is a motivational workshop team 21st century survival skills. It is aimed at middle school aged students (11-14) and will go on for eight weeks. Students, boys and girls, will be taught life skills through hands-on experience. Emphasis will be placed on money management, etiquette, conflict and anger management, drug-awareness, effective communication and personal health.

Those participating will be taught how to open a bank account, dress for a job interview and cope with stress. The free class will run on Thursdays, from September 26 to November 14, 5.00 to 7.00 p.m.

"We're not taking any more than 20 and on day three when we checked the numbers we already had ten," warned Mrs. Chapman of the limited space.

Staff at the Community Education and Development Programme are sent away for a week of intensive training at the Community Education Association in Flint, Michigan to enable them to perform their duties more effectively. The local programme is modelled on the one in Michigan.