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AONTAS Update...
09 June 2010 Issue Number 37 Welcome Welcome to the AONTAS Update! The AONTAS Update is a weekly resource designed to keep members informed about current lifelong learning issues as well as what’s happening in AONTAS! Please let us know what you think of the bulletin by taking a short survey here.
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The Update will be e-mailed to members every Tuesday afternoon. If you have difficulty viewing the Update in your e-mail window, download as a PDF by clicking here. Members are very welcome to contribute and if you have anything for inclusion, please e-mail it to Eleonora Peruffo (eperuffo@aontas.com) by 5pm on Monday afternoon.
Each week, we will include a short poll / survey in the AONTAS Update. This is just one opportunity for members to let us know your opinions on the current issues!
POLICY Adult Education News
PROMOTION Events Publications & Websites
MEMBERSHIP
INFORMATION
AONTAS News AONTAS Membership
Information Referral Service Education & Training Opportunities Funding
POLICY ADULT EDUCATION NEWS €20m education plan will train up to 6,500 Under the Labour Market Activation Fund 6,500 training and education
places for jobless people are expected to be created. This is almost twice the 3,500 signalled by the Government when it invited tenders to run the programmes. The courses will be a mix of short-term and longer-term programmes and will be run throughout the country. There will be an emphasis on the under-35s and the long-term unemployed. (Irish Independent, 1st June 2010) Single parent benefit reform to save â‚Ź30 million The Social Welfare Bill proposes that single parents whose youngest child is over 13 will no longer be able to claim one parent family payments. Under the current system, a parent is entitled to receive the payments until the youngest child reaches 18, or 22 if the child is in full-time education. There will be a phasing in period of six years under which the upper age entitlement for children will be reduced to 17 in 2013; 16 in 2014; 15 in 2015 and 13 in 2016.The estimated savings to the State from the controversial reform of single parent benefits will be close to â‚Ź30 million per annum. (Irish Times, 1st June 2010) University heads told courses and jobs at risk in funding cut Tom Boland, chief executive of the HEA, has advised colleges to budget on the basis that there may be further staff reductions in 2011. The university sector is already struggling to cope with a huge surge in student numbers, as record numbers of school leavers and mature learners opt for college. One university source stated that new cuts would threaten a huge number of courses and cuts in courses will inevitably lead to higher CAO points levels for future students. (Irish Times, 2nd June 2010) Number taking Leaving Cert Irish at record low level The percentage of students taking the Leaving Certificate Irish exam is at its lowest level since records began. Figures released by the State Exams Commission yesterday show only 82 per cent of Leaving Certs students are taking the subject, compared with 90 per cent almost a decade ago. Fine Gael has called for Irish to be an optional subject after the Junior Certificate amid signs of declining student interest. (Irish Times, 3rd June 2010) Third level staffing down but student numbers soar New figures have shown that third-level colleges had a full-time staffing quota of 20,084 at the end of March this year, down from 21,149 at the end of December 2008. At the same time the number of full-time students went up from around 145,000 to 155,000. An international study has shown that universities in Ireland and Latvia were suffering the worst cuts in government funding in Europe. This year's reduction of 9.4pc in state aid followed cuts of 5.4pc last year in Ireland. (Irish Independent, 3rd June 2010)
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To keep up to date with AONTAS Policy News,
please visit www.aontas.com/policy Back to Contents
PROMOTION Events Open Training College featured on RTE show 'Outside The Box' In celebration of winning the Aontas STAR Award (National Category) recently, the teaching staff of the Open Training College was invited to speak on the popular RTE Radio 1 show 'Outside The Box'. Outside the Box shines a spotlight on issues of broad concern to disabled people, their families and representative organisations. The show confronts issues head on and is not afraid to challenge commonly held assumptions about disabled people and the disability sector. .Discussion between Olan Mcgowan, the shows presenter, and the three OTC teaching staff members - Raymond Watson, Alacoque McAuley Savage and Mick Keating - centered around the collaborative nature and flexibility of all courses on offer from the College to adult learners, particularly the BA in Applied Social Studies (Disability). Please click the link below to access the 24 minute show that released on May 21st, 2010. When you get to the RTE page by using the link below, click the Open Training College audio link under the Latest Outside the Box Podcasts section, to hear the show. http://www.rte.ie/radio1/outsidethebox/
****** Community Radio Conference 2010 Community Radio stations are not-for-profit, representative, accountable & provide a social benefit to the communities they serve and empower. Community Radio is open to all, encourages participation, lifelong learning, and reflects diversity. On June 18th, explore one of Irelands good news stories. Speakers include Eamon Ryan T.D, Minister for Communications, Steve Buckley, President of AMARC, (the worldwide network of Community Radio stations) Michael O'Keeffe CEO of the BAI (Broadcasting Authority of Ireland), Deirdre Garvey, CEO of the Wheel, Bob Collins (tbc) Chair of the BAI, Anne O'Brien NUI Maynooth, Kevin Moran from Pobal, along with case studies from Aontas, NCBI and many more. Community Radio stations Employment in the sector has doubled in the last 18 months and by the end of 2010 the number of licensed stations will also have doubled since 2004. Community radio provides nationwide FETAC accredited training opportunities in communications, IT skills and community building. Community stations act as learning sites where individuals of all
PUBLICATIONS & WEBSITES The new issue of Explore, the AONTAS magazine on adult education, is now out! Members should receive it tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. The online version will be available tomorrow on the AONTAS website.
******* INOU Annual report 2009 is now available.
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backgrounds can develop both confidence and competence. Registration is FREE if booked by June 15th (with holding deposit)/ â‚Ź30 on day. See http://www.craol.iefor more details
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MEMBERSHIP AONTAS NEWS Strategic Plan consultation Aontas is planning strategic plan consultations with members and you’ll be hearing from us soon. Keep an eye on the membership section of the website: http://www.aontas.com/membership/. You can view the background document used at the 2010 AGM here. ******
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AONTAS MEMBERSHIP Any organisation, group or individual that is involved, or interested, in adult and community education may apply for membership. If you feel that you would benefit both in your practice and personally from AONTAS join our vibrant organisation today! ******
INFORMATION EDUCATION & TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES Open Training college information session, 29-30 June 2010 You are invited to an upcoming information event in Galway(29thJune) or Cork (30th June)where you can explore the adult education opportunities that are available to staff and managers working, or currently seeking work, in the non-profit/human services sector. The new regional timetable for the BA in applied social studies(disability) that launches in September 2010 will be announced by Raymond Watson, Course Director. Please click here to read more. ****** South West Wexford Community Development Temporary Community Youth/Development Worker for the period August 2010 to December 2010 to provide maternity leave
INFORMATION REFERRAL SERVICE The service is suspended until further notice.
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Information Booklet If you are interested in returning to education why not download a copy of the
cover. Temporary part-time contract. Personnel Specification for the above post: a. A recognized 3rd Level Qualification in Youth Work/Community Development or a related field. b. Good group work, facilitation and communication skills. c. Ability to work in a team essential. d. Experience of working in a community development environment. e. An understanding of community development practices and principles. Job Description available upon request at: reception@swwcdp.com Applications to be made by letter and C.V. to: The project Manager, South West Wexford Community Development Group, Ramsgrange, New Ross, Co. Wexford. Telephone: 051 389418 Fax: 051 389264 Email: reception@swwcdp.com Closing date for position: 18th June, 2010.
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FUNDING Website: www.makingcents.ie makingcents.ie is the new website for anyone interested in learning about money and financial matters. It includes online exercises to help you understand how to use and manage money better. Makingcents.ie is brought to by NALA (National Adult Literacy Association) and EBS Building Society who have worked together since 2004 to address the issue of access to financial services for those with literacy difficulties.
****** Student maintenance grant schemes Minister for Education and Skills, Mary Coughlan T.D. has announced details of the student maintenance grant schemes for the coming academic year. This year's schemes include administrative and service improvements aimed at ensuring students getting their grant entitlement on time. The changes include: Early announcement of the 2010 schemes and application form to facilitate students in making an early application; New more user-friendly student grant application form for 2010/11; Downloadable student grant application form; and New payments process, including advance payments to awarding authorities. The student grant application form can be downloaded from www.studentfinance.ie ******
Information Booklet by clicking here. ****** www.ifpro.de
Back to Contents Back to Contents AONTAS is the National Adult Learning Organisation. It is a non-governmental organisation that exists to ensure that every adult in Ireland has access to appropriate and affordable learning opportunities throughout their lives, thus enabling them to participate in the economic, social, civic and cultural development of Irish society. For further information visit www.aontas.com or www.adultlearnersfestival.com. Apologies for any cross posting. If you no longer wish to receive information from AONTAS, please e-mail mail@aontas.com. AONTAS – The National Adult Learning Organisation 83 – 87 Main Street, Ranelagh, Dublin 6W Ph 01 4068220«Fax 014068227«E-mail mail@aontas.com Company Registration: 80958 Charity Registration: 6719