Adult and Community Education in Communities

Adult and Community Education in Communities

Last updated 15 January 2024
Last updated 15 January 2024

Adult and Community Education (ACE) in Communities funding is for informal, community-based education provided by private training establishments (PTEs), rural education activity programme (REAP) providers and community organisations. This page covers ACE in Communities eligibility and provider responsibilities.

Eligibility

For details of provider eligibility, programme eligibility and learner eligibility please see the funding conditions for the relevant year.

Any funding requests for ACE provision must demonstrate how it meets one of the programme priorities listed in the funding conditions for the relevant year, and how it addresses community learning needs.

ACE funding is not for provision broadly classed as hobby courses (eg, arts, crafts and music; gardening; personal fitness and recreation; and home maintenance).

Provider responsibilities

ACE providers are required to work with Regional Skills Leadership Groups (RSLGs), local iwi, local organisations, peak bodies, local industry, local employers and communities, including other ACE providers, to identify and meet community learning needs.

Each ACE provider must ensure that its funded ACE programme(s) will:

  • address the needs of target learner groups,
  • design and provide programmes that meet the programme eligibility requirements,
  • target ACE provision in foundation skills to learners who have low or no formal qualifications, and
  • target ACE provision in English Language Teaching (ELT) (formerly known as Specialised English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)) to learners with English language needs.

To view all requirements, please see the ACE in Communities funding conditions for the relevant year.