Free Online Maths Course Available For Adults in NI

The Open University in Northern Ireland is offering adults a fantastic opportunity to enhance their math skills with a free online course, 'Everyday Maths 1 (Northern Ireland)'. Hosted on OpenLearn, the course is designed to help individuals build confidence in essential numeracy or refresh their math skills in a practical and engaging manner.

Funded by the UK government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, the course is part of a broader initiative to improve adult numeracy skills in Northern Ireland. The £145,000 grant has enabled the Open University to develop two online math courses, with 'Everyday Maths 2' set to launch in January 2025.

'Everyday Maths 1 (Northern Ireland)' covers a variety of topics, including basic arithmetic, fractions, percentages, and measurements. These skills are essential for navigating everyday tasks and can be beneficial for budgeting, managing finances, or supporting children's education.

The best part? The course is completely free and accessible online, allowing learners to study at their own pace. This makes it ideal for those who have busy schedules and want to balance work, family, and other commitments. The course is open to learners of all ages and backgrounds, making it accessible to anyone seeking to sharpen their math skills. John D'Arcy, Director of The Open University in Northern Ireland, emphasised the importance of making education accessible: "We are thrilled to bring this free maths course to Northern Ireland. Thanks to government funding, we're helping people in the local community build their confidence with numeracy, a key skill that impacts so many areas of life. Whether it's managing household budgets, understanding utility bills, or enhancing job prospects, this course provides valuable knowledge and practical skills."

With a commitment of 48 hours of learning, you'll complete the course feeling more confident and capable in using mathematics in everyday situations. Participants will also receive a statement of participation and a digital badge upon completion, giving formal recognition of their achievements.

This initiative from The Open University in Northern Ireland, supported by significant UK government funding, demonstrates a commitment to providing accessible education and lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Economy Minister, Conor Murphy said: "Confidence with numbers is a key employability skill. Sadly, too many adults in the north lack, or feel they lack, numeracy skills and this in turn impacts their career prospects and overall wellbeing. Indeed the 2022 Employer Skills Survey highlighted that a lack of basic numerical skills contributed to a quarter of skills-shortage vacancies here.

"Multiply will see thousands of training opportunities made available for adults right across the north. I strongly encourage anyone who feels they would benefit from additional numeracy training to visit nidirect and find out about courses near them."

Interested? Start your journey today and transform your math skills with the Everyday Maths 1 course (Northern Ireland). For more information or to enrol, visit The Open University's website.