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AONTAS Update...
20 July 2010 Issue Number 43
Welcome
Monthly Survey
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.
Do you agree with plans to reform the one parent family payment? Click here to let us know. Thanks to all of you who have voted on this topic already!
This week, don’t forget to have your say! Complete the Strategic Plan survey and help us shape the next 3 years’ activities! Click here to complete the survey. Deadline is this Friday, 23rd July. The questionnaire is the first part of Each month, we will the consultation, click here to read more about the Strategic Plan consultation include a short poll / survey process. in the AONTAS Update. The Update will be e-mailed to members every Tuesday afternoon. If you have This is just one opportunity difficulty viewing the Update in your e-mail window, download as a PDF by for members to let us know clicking here. Members are very welcome to contribute and if you have your opinions on the anything for inclusion, please e-mail it to Eleonora Peruffo current issues! (eperuffo@aontas.com) by 5pm on Monday afternoon.
POLICY
PROMOTION
MEMBERSHIP
INFORMATION
Adult Education News Politics
Adult Learners’ Festival 2011 Promotion
AONTAS News Membership News AONTAS Membership
Information Referral Service Education & Training Opportunities International News
POLICY February 2010 - Adult Education: A Current Leaving Cert reforms gather dust Diagnosis & Measures for Key reforms designed to make the Leaving Certificate more relevant to Recovery modern needs are gathering dust in the Department of Education. Plans for As part of the Adult four revised subjects are on hold indefinitely because of budgetary pressures. Irish Independent – Tuesday, 13 July 2010 Learners' Festival 2010, Lobby for Learning Day TCD defends promotion of 27 senior academics AONTAS invited education Trinity College Dublin (TCD) has defended the promotion of 27 senior spokespeople together with academics – in the face of criticism that the move runs counter to the the Minister for Lifelong promotions embargo across the public service. Irish Times – Tuesday, 13 Learning Sean Haughey to July 2010 hear firsthand about a service that is Students unaware of third-level restrictions under the LCA programme overstretched and HUNDREDS of teenagers could be missing out on the chance of a higher education each year because they are not told the Leaving Certificate struggling to cope with the current demand from Applied (LCA) programme they take restricts their access to college. Irish Examiner - Wednesday, 14 July 2010 adults for education and training. At "The Adult Cuts putting ‘unsustainable pressure on universities’ Education Clinic" Minister Severe cuts in university funding, at a time when the sector faces record for Lifelong Learning, Sean student demand, is placing “unsustainable pressures’’ on colleges, the new Haughey, along with Green president of Dublin City University warned yesterday. Irish Times – Party TD Paul Gogarty, Fine Wednesday, 14 July 2010 Gael TD Brian Hayes, and Cllr Aodhan O Riordain Urgent need to train for future from the Labour Party reA woman in RTE's 'Frontline' audience on Monday night drew a round of created the format of a applause when she said that FAS, the national training authority, was not fit for purpose when it came to getting people back to work. She cited a 10- constituency clinic in order week course on how to compile a CV as a typical example of the to hear from providers on organisation's unrealistic approach. Irish Independent – Wednesday, 14 the ground, as well as adult July 2010. WATCH THE CLIP ON RTE BY CLICKING HERE learners accessing the services.
ADULT EDUCATION NEWS
‘Unless Ireland reforms education, the future just doesn’t bear thinking about’ Irish Times Opinion – Thursday, 15 July 2010
POLITICS BTEA Update
Adult Education: A Current Diagnosis & Measures for Recovery, a short paper illustrating the current
The following changes have been made to the Back to Education Allowance with effect from yesterday, 19 July 2010.
demand for adult education and three measures for recovery, was launched at level course of the event.
Previously, a person who wished to take up a 3rd education could do so after getting a relevant social welfare payment for 12 months, or 9 months, only if approved by a facilitator of the ****** Department. From tomorrow, this period will be set at 9 months for all applicants who are attending 3rd level education (a 2 year qualifying New Government Website period continues to apply to participants coming from Illness Benefit). www.merrionstreet.com .... Until now, a person could apply for BTEA in respect of a 3rd level course, The Irish Government’s providing they were commencing their course at year one. From Information Service has tomorrow, this condition is being relaxed as follows: built a new social o A person will now be able to avail of BTEA where they networking-led internet previously did not complete their course (they may have platform based on ‘dropped out’) and are returning to the second or subsequent WordPress, Flickr, Facebook and Twitter called year of their 3rd level course. o This also applies to people who are granted an exemption from MerrionStreet.ie. Under the new structure, Taoiseach a period of their 3rd level course because, for example, of their participation in a previous course. An example of this is where Brian Cowen TD and other a person may previously have pursued a 3rd level course of Government ministers will be in a position to ‘tweet’ education to higher certificate level. If they are planning to to the world based on any return to education to pursue their course to, say, degree level, number of issues. they may avail of the BTEA for this. o Where a person completed earlier year(s) of their 3rd level course on a part-time basis but is now getting a Jobseeker’s payment, they may apply for BTEA to continue their course on a full-time basis. The USI commented on it in the Irish Examiner here calling for Minister Coughlan to reverse the Maintenance Grant decision. The Examiner also mentions “A spokesperson for Mr Ó Cuív said the minister accepts there may be issues in relation to childcare costs for BTEA recipients and he is looking into this, but no further details were available about what might be under consideration to address the situation.” The Irish Independent covered it here For AONTAS policy updates, please visit www.aontas.com/policy
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PROMOTION Adult Learners’ Festival 2011 Date for your Diary The Adult Learners’ Festival 2011 takes place from 21st to 25th February 2011. The Festival, now in its fifth year is a nationwide celebration of adult learning coordinated by AONTAS – The National Adult Learning Organisation. Planning is well underway for the 2011 Festival and further information will be circulated in the coming weeks. Adult Learners’ Festival 2010 Report This report contains an in depth look at the organisation of the Adult Learners’ Festival 2010 as well as key outcomes and recommendations for future Festivals. The report is intended to be a companion document to the Adult Learners’ Festival Explore Magazine which provides a snapshot of the celebrations during the 2010 Festival week. Click here to read the full report. For AONTAS Adult Learners’ Festival news, please visit www.adultlearnersfestival.com
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Promotion FREE Media Training for Members Would you like hands on media training or assistance to develop your media strategy? AONTAS offers FREE media training to members, help with your press releases and advice on promoting your organisation. Training can be delivered in your area and will be tailored to suit the needs of your organisation. For more information or to discuss in greater detail, contact Niamh Farren, Communications Officer, 01 406 8220/ nfarren@aontas.com.
MEMBERSHIP AONTAS NEWS Strategic Plan Consultation Process AONTAS is currently engaging in a consultation process to develop its next Strategic plan which will guide the work of the organisation for three years from 2011 until 2013. The consultation began at the Annual General Meeting of membership held on May 19th 2010. Now you can make your own input! 1. Read the Strategic Plan Scoping document (pdf) 2. Complete the questionnaire online OR download the word version The deadline for receipt of the questionnaire is this Friday, 23 rd July 2010 Participate in the evaluation of the CEN meetings We are going into our 4th year of the CEN so we want to consolidate the
AONTAS MEMBERSHIP Over 550 learners, tutors, adult education coordinators, managers, policy makers and many other interested organisations and individuals avail of the many benefits of AONTAS Any organisation, group or individual that is involved,
work and get a strong lobbying campaign for community education underway in the autumn. The CEN meetings act as an important space for discussion and reflection. In order to ensure we make best use of our meetings we are evaluating them. It is vital that you actively participate in the development of the network and therefore I would ask you to take the time to complete this questionnaire by Tuesday 26th July. Click here to complete the survey The survey will only take 5 -10 minutes, all responses will directly influence the next set of meetings. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Niamh O’ Reilly (noreilly@aontas.com) ****** Many Happy Returns AONTAS have recently published a short booklet chartering the organisations 40 year history (1969 – 2009). For your copy, please contact Ciara Murphy, Resource & Communications Officer at cmurphy@aontas.com
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! ******
MEMBERSHIP NEWS CELT Centre for Environmental Living and Training July 17th & 18th - Come & Join us for a Weekend of Natural Building, Felting, Rustic Furniture making, Woodcarving Signs and much more... Only €20 per person (annual membership of €15 required). (Event is for 14yrs + only). See www.celtnet.org for details Next Weekend in the Woods - 2nd & 3rd October 2010 For more information, please contact: CELT Centre for Environmental Living and Training Main St, Scariff, Co.Clare, Ireland www.celtnet.org info@celtnet.org Tel: 061-640765
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INFORMATION International News DARE Synchronised Action Days 2010 SYNCHRONIZED ACTION DAYS are a powerful PR tool. They showcase the many different activities in the field of Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights Education (HRE/RDC) in Europe. Be it a workshop, a
INFORMATION REFERRAL SERVICE What are the training and upskilling options if I
campaign, an art project, a local, regional or international initiative – DARE collects and disseminates your activities to stakeholders on the local, regional, national and European level. The DARE Synchronised Action Days 2010 are going to take place from October 10th to December 10th 2010. Please share your activities during the time covered with us by filling the form from http://www.dare-network.eu/synact_2010.htm. Please complete the forms by 15th September 2010 and e-mail to Anne Stalfort (stalfort@adb.de) What you have to do to do? 1) Fill out the short “activity report form” for download at the DARE website. Every HRE/EDC activity between Oct 10 and Dec 10, 2010 is important! 2) For every additional activity just copy the table. 3) Send the form(s) in word-format until Sept 15, 2010 via email to: Anne Stalfort (stalfort@adb.de ). 4) You are very welcome to download and use the logo of the Synchronised Action Days.
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become unemployed? Click here to find the answer! Visit the AONTAS website to get the latest updates on how to return to education and what courses are available under the new “activation measures”. ******
Information Booklet If you are interested in returning to education why not contact our Information Referral Service on 01 4068220. Alternatively, download a copy of the Information Booklet by clicking here
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