From
1990
o t p U
1999
YEAR POLITICAL CONTEXT
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
Fianna Fáil – Progressive Democrat coalition is in Government.
Fianna Fáil – Progressive Democrat coalition is in Government.
Fianna Fáil -Labour coalition is in Government.
Fianna Gael-Labour coalition is in Government.
Fianna Fail, Labour, Democratic Left coalition is in Government.
Fianna Fail, Labour, Democratic Left coalition is in Government.
Fianna Fail, Labour, Democratic Left coalition is in Government.
Government - Fianna Fáil & Progressive Democrats.
Government - Fianna Fáil & Progressive Democrats.
Government - Fianna Fáil & Progressive Democrats.
Charles Haughey is elected Taoiseach by Dáil Eireann.
Noel Davern is Minister for Education.
Charles Haughey resigned as Taoiseach.
Niamh Bhreathnach is Minister for Education.
Michael Smith is Minister for Education.
Niamh Breathnach is Minister for Education.
Niamh Breathnach is Minister for Education.
Michael Martin becomes Minister for Education in June.
Michael Martin is Minister for Education and Science.
Michael Martin is Minister for Education and Science.
Mary O’Rourke is Minister for Education.
Albert Reynolds, Minister for Finance is sacked by the Government.
Albert Reynolds is elected Taoiseach. Seamus Brennan is Minister for Education. Proinsias De Rossa forms the political party the Democratic Left.
Albert Reynolds resigns as Taoiseach.
White paper on Adult Education ‘Charting our Education Future’ is launched by Minister Niamh Breathnach.
Appointment of the first Junior Minister for Education: Willie O'Dea with special responsibility for Adult Education. He promises a Green Paper for Adult Education and he wants to increase the number of paid personnel in the sector.
Tony Blair becomes the first Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to address the Dáil Éireann.
Launch of the National Anti-Poverty Strategy Report.
The Government publishes the Green Paper ‘Adult Education in an Era of Learning.’
Minister of Education, Michael Martin, launches a £194 million plan to tackle educational disadvantage by way of: - Back to Education Initiative (£27.5 million) - Adult Literacy (£14 million) - Further Education Guidance (£3 million) - Third Level Access (£30 million) - Third Level Progression (£6 million).
Mary McAleese is elected the 8th President of Ireland. Bertie Ahern is appointed 10th Taoiseach.
DEVELOPMENTS IN EDUCATION
13 Institutes of Technology are established under the Regional Technical Colleges.
The National Council for Education Awards (NCEA) develops a policy for the evaluation of prior experiential learning.
The Shanty Educational Project, Tallaght, wins the AIB Better Ireland award.
The Minister for Education, Niamh Bhreathnach, pledges the introduction of free Third Level education for all over the coming 3 years.
The European funding initiative NOW (New Opportunities for Women) is launched.
The Department of Education makes £100,000 available for people on social welfare benefits who wish to return to learning and £200,000 for community education groups.Transition Year is mainstreamed in all secondary schools.
The Government publishes the White Paper on Education ‘Charting our Education Future.’ Third level fees for full-time courses are abolished. New Opportunities for Women 2 (NOW) is made available.
40TH MANY HAPPY RETURNS
KEY AONTAS WORK
AONTAS promotes the contribution made by voluntary groups to the development of adult education in Ireland; as a result the AONTAS voluntary membership expand rapidly. AONTAS celebrates its 21st birthday, a poem and a picture are produced for the occasion. Ms Berni Brady is elected the AONTAS President.
AONTAS publishes the workbook ‘From the Personal to the AONTAS publishes the report ‘Liberating Learning’ which Political.’ It aims to assist women’s groups to learn more about their documented the provision and conditions of daytime adult own, and others,’ experiences. The oppression of the individual education. and the group is highlighted in order to help them achieve personal, social and political change. The Annual General Meeting is dedicated to discussing the Green Paper on Education. AONTAS supports the publication of the journal the ‘Adult Learner.’
National University of Ireland, Maynooth comes into existence with the commencement of the Universities Act, 1997.
VECs in Bray, Drogheda, Sligo, Tralee and Wexford are abolished.
Waterford Institute of Technology offers the first course for literacy organisers.
First general European Conference on Educational Research held in Paris.
AONTAS launches a phone-in information service on grants and courses ranging from literacy to Third Level.
OECD publishes the report ‘Literacy Skills for the Knowledge Society’ which presents the findings of the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS). It highlights that 25% of the Irish population scored at the lowest literacy level.
Bank of Ireland launches its Millennium Trust Scheme (bursaries up to £30.000).
The National Centre for Guidance in Education established.
AONTAS makes a submission (The Right to Learn) regarding the Green Paper on Education. It highlights the major issues for adult education: access, funding, information and guidance, accreditation and certification and financial barriers.
AONTAS celebrates its 25th birthday.
The NOW programme provides training to women’s groups. The target group was women living in disadvantaged or remote communities who find it difficult to access mainstream training and educational opportunities.
AONTAS lobbies for an accreditation system for formal and non-formal education.
AONTAS publishes the report ‘Can You Credit it?’ which centres on the accreditation needs of community education groups.
AONTAS hosts a conference entitled ‘Into the Future.’ Its focus is the development of adult education in Ireland into the 21st Century. Dr Ted Fleming gives the keynote address. AONTAS submits a response to the Government on the White Paper on Education.
AONTAS hosts an adult education exhibition in September.
AONTAS lobbies for an accreditation system for learning. AONTAS publishes a guide to starting your own group for the community sector. AONTAS publishes ‘A Degree at Last,’ which contains stories to celebrate the Year of Lifelong Learning. AONTAS hosts an adult learning exhibition in September.
Mr Michael McGreil is elected President of AONTAS.
AONTAS agrees with the Minister for Education Michael Martin's AONTAS conducts a study entitled ‘Everything to Gain’, which statement about the need for increasing paid professionals in the notes that ¾ of Third Level Allowance Scheme participants sector. However, AONTAS calls on the government to view adult successfully complete their degrees. education guidance as the most pressing priority. AONTAS initiates the WENDI programme (Women’s Education AONTAS and NALA lobby in the run up to the General Election Network Initiatives), which provides management training to 70 groups across the country. in order to get adult education on the political agenda. AONTAS hosts an adult learning exhibition in September. AONTAS hosts an adult learning exhibition in September.
AONTAS hosts an Adult Learning Exhibition in September. AONTAS hosts a conference entitled ‘Information, Guidance and Counselling for Adult Education.'
The AONTAS Adult Learning Exhibition is held at RDS Dublin in September and is attended by over 5000 people . A free draw is held, prizes include: 20 week extramural courses at UCD, a sailing course by Fingal Sailing School and a Linguaphone language course of the winner’s choice.
AONTAS holds an adult learning exhibition in September. AONTAS creates a campaign to abolish fees for evening and distance learning courses.
AONTAS hosts a conference entitled ‘From Ireland to Europe: Accessing Funding for Adult Education.’
After surviving the cutbacks, AONTAS establishes a number of initiatives to rebuild the adult and community education sector. Women’s community education grew and developed. Notable features of the decade are the NOW programmes, the first AONTAS strategic plan and the appointment of Willie O’Dea as the first Minister of State with responsibility for Adult Education.
AONTAS and ICTU host a conference entitled ‘Designing Courses for the Unemployed.’ AONTAS hosts a conference entitled ‘The Development of Adult Education in Ireland: The Contribution of Voluntary Groups.’
Ms Berni Brady is appointed Director of AONTAS. AONTAS calls for a broader based grant system and more funding for community education groups.
AONTAS, the French Association AFIP and the Spanish FAEA host a European conference on tutor-training entitled 'Educational Choices for Adults'.
AONTAS nominates Joanna Mc Minn and Eilish Rooney for a J. Roby Kidd Citation award. They win for their work on developing a new concept in learning ‘The Spiral Model of Learning.’
AONTAS and ENFO host a conference entitled ‘Learning to Live with the Environment.’
AONTAS hosts a conference entitled ‘Empowerment and Action: A New Agenda for Lifelong Learning,’ to celebrate the 1996 European Year of Lifelong Learning.
An AONTAS delegation meets the Minister for Education, Niamh Breathnach. The Minister states that adult education will be given centre stage.
AONTAS establishes the first men’s education group. AONTAS is involved in a study tour to the European Parliament in December.
AONTAS hosts a conference entitled ‘Choice or Chance Educational Opportunities for Adults dependent on Social Welfare Benefits.’
AONTAS commissions a research report ‘Counting Us In,’ which centres on education for adults with learning disability.
AONTAS launches its first strategic plan ‘A Vision for the Future,’ which outlines work for the period 1998-2000.
AONTAS carries out research on the Third Level Allowance Scheme. AONTAS participates in the UNESCO International Conference on Adult Learning, CONFINTEA V, in Hamburg.
AONTAS publishes a report on the effect of the cutbacks on the VTOS scheme. AONTAS organises a seminar ‘Can you Credit It,’ in order to highlight the accreditation needs of community education groups.
AONTAS participates in the 'Higher Options' conference on third level education for adults.
Ms Mairead Wrynn becomes President of AONTAS.
1990 marks the UNESCO International Year of Literacy.
AONTAS members respond to the Green Paper on Adult Education and highlight the current issues in adult and community education: - Financial barriers for adults wishing to return to education - The lack of access to mainstream programmes of education and training - The lack of information and guidance services to suit the needs of adult learners - The lack of properly funded childcare facilities - The discrepancy between the opportunities available to the long-term unemployed and those in low-paid jobs - The lack of progression routes from basic education to higher education and training programs and between the formal and non-formal sectors.
AONTAS, in collaboration with NWCI, hosts the '50/50 Vision: 10 years of New Opportunities for Women' in Kilmainham.
AONTAS hosts an adult education exhibition in September.
NATIONAL EVENTS
Mary Robinson becomes the first female President of Ireland.
"Birmingham Six" are freed from jail after 16 years.
Bishop Eamon Casey of Galway resigns his position.
Mother Teresa meets President Robinson at Áras an Uachtaráin.
The Provisional IRA announces a complete cessation of military operations.
WORLD EVENTS
Irish writer Brian Keenan is released from Lebanon after being held hostage for 5 years.
Collapse of the Soviet Union states declare independence Mikhail Gorbachov resigns as President.
The Maastricht Treaty is signed founding the European Union.
Bill Clinton becomes 42nd President of USA.
lson Mandela is inaugurated as South Africa's first Black president. eBay is founded.
For the first time in 26 years, no British soldiers patrol the streets of Belfast.
Ireland's first Irish language television station, Teilifís na Gaeilge (TnaG) launched.
President Mary Robinson is appointed UN High Commissionerfor Human Rights.
Dolly the sheep the first mammal, to be cloned is born in Scotland. Princes Diana of Wales dies in a car crash.
Good Friday agreement is signed by Irish, British and N.Ireland Political Parties with DUP a notable exception.
Ten designated ministers are appointed to the power-sharing NorthernIreland Assembly.
Google, Inc. is founded in California by by Stanford University Ph. D students.
Boris Yeltsin resigns as President of Russia, leaving Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin as acting President.