EXPLORE Issue No. 15 May 2010
The quarterly magazine from AONTAS, the National Adult Learning Organisation
In this issue: • STARS shine at No. 6 Kildare Street • Clinic prescribes solutions for adult learning sector and adult learners • Beyond the Classroom – Sound and Vision Funds new TV series about community education • Your events, your Festival!
Explore Note from the Editor
Hello and welcome to this issue of Explore. In this issue, we look back on events during the Adult Learners’ Festival 2010. From the glitz of the STAR Awards ceremony, to a sneak peak of the ‘Beyond the Classroom’ series, to a reconstituted Adult Education Clinic, creativity, inspiration and persistence were the hallmarks of this years Festival. At the last count, we estimated that 350 events took place around the country. At a time when the sector is under increasing pressure to meet increasing demand, this is a real achievement for all involved.
© AONTAS 2010
ISSN 1649-8259
The Festival celebrated learning in the most unlikely places. A Family Butcher’s shop in Cashel, GIY gatherings of green fingered gardeners, armchair politicians dropping into Dáil Eireann, all connected by a love of learning. Local VECs, Adult Guidance Officers, Community Education Facilitators and tutors joined forces to provide information and advice to people considering their education options. In the absence of a formal coordinating body, the Festival demonstrated the potential for us to roll up our sleeves and work collaboratively. As usual, the Awards Ceremony was full of inspiring stories – the winning ‘A Song for All’ project, will see two Traveller women singing later this year at New Yorks Carnegie Hall, while the Open Training College, winner of the Nationwide award, put it simply – ‘this award goes to the heart of what we do.’ Meanwhile, Orla Barry, 2
Explore Newstalk broadcaster, paid tribute to her own experience on a FÁS CE Scheme, which gave her the time and space to figure out her ambitions and establish her career. Later in the week, we premiered excerpts from the BAI funded TV programmes ‘Beyond the Classroom’ – produced for broadcast by DCTV. The programmes are available online at www.dctv.ie, and we are also interested to hear the views of practitioners as to how they might best be packaged and used as a resource for the sector. Our final event – the Adult Education Clinic involving Minister for Lifelong Learning, Sean Haughey and other party spokespeople was timely considering two current key challenges – the removal of eligibility for the maintenance grant for those in receipt of the BTEA, and the public sector recruitment embargo. We look at both of these issues in greater detail in this issue. The Festival was widely covered in local and national media – local radio and newspapers gave plenty of coverage to the STAR Awards and local activities, while the Festival was also promoted by Drivetime on RTE, the Irish Times, the Irish Independent and others. A final word of thanks to all who organised events or were involved in whatever capacity – participant, organiser, or on the sidelines – your enthusiasm, energy and hard work all paid off to prove that we are indeed – ‘Better Together.’ Until next time, Niamh Farren, Communications Officer AONTAS
List of Contents
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AONTAS News
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Adult Education News
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European News
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Opening Lines Berni Brady looks back on a hectic week of Festival events
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STAR Awards This years STARS shine at the Awards Ceremony
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AONTAS News
Research in progress... Community Education Research
STARS under the Spotlight 12 A more indepth look at some of this year’s winners • The Open Training College • The National Learning Network Learning Communities Beyond the Classroom – a new series of programmes funded by the BAI Sound and Vision Scheme was launched as part of Learning Communities day.
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Green Learning A quick look at the first Green Learning Day
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Festival around the Country Reports and Reflections from Event Organisers
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VTOS – Celebrating 21 years
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Remembering Jenny: AONTAS staff remember our wonderful friend and colleague Jennifer Gunning
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Policy The Adult Education Clinic
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The Community Education Network: Community Education has a number of outcomes – for the individual, community and wider society
From the Provider perspective – the Public Sector Recruitment Embargo
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From the Learner Perspective – BTEA and the Maintenance Grant
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Closing Remarks Food for thought and reflections from some of those involved
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Explore offers discount advertising rates to all community and voluntary groups. To find out more about advertising in future issues, contact Niamh Farren, Communications Officer, AONTAS, Tel: 01 406 8220, email: nfarren@aontas.com.
To date, there has been no national research in Ireland scoping the outcomes of community education for learners, communities and the State. AONTAS recently commissioned research looking at measuring the outcomes of Department of Education and Science (DES) funded community education groups from different angles: the benefit for the individual, benefit for the community and for wider society. The research will include a literature review, the statistics of a survey involving more than 600 adult learners and a survey to all Adult Education VEC personnel in the state. Community education is an important first step back into second chance learning for many adults and
AONTAS AGM
The AONTAS AGM takes place on May 19th this year at the Clarion Hotel, Dublin 1. If you are a member of AONTAS then you are entitled to full voting rights at the AGM. At this year’s AGM, AONTAS will initiate a consultation process for the new Strategic Plan which will run from 2011 to 2013. The work
a national piece of research exploring its outcomes has much to offer to key stakeholders in adult and community education in Ireland, by informing us about the following: • what approaches work • how they work • what progression routes are followed • the quality of life that it can bring. The research will help the sector advocating the monetary value of investing in adult and community education and will be available in July.
of the organisation over the past four years was guided by four key strategic objectives:- the four Ps, Policy, Promotion, Practice and Partnership. These were underpinned by a fifth objective, Organisational Development. In 2007 the environment in which the adult and community education sector was operating was very different to the current context. Given
this changed environment, progress made and recent consultation with providers in both the formal and non formal sector, AONTAS will identify a number of priorities for the next three year period. The AGM is an opportunity to feed in ideas and shape the future work of the organisation. For more information contact Niamh O’Reilly, Head of Membership Services. 3
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Adult Education News
MA in Community Education, Equality and Social Activism at Maynooth Another world is possible: learning from each other's struggles
For decades community groups, the women's movement and other social justice movements have been the driving force behind equality in Ireland, while global justice activists have highlighted the crisis of climate change and neoliberalism. This course brings together experienced activists in community education and social movements with those interested and motivated about social justice to create new knowledge and develop alternatives. The course seeks to develop the capacity of ordinary people to change the world through community education, grassroots community activism and social movement campaigning. The Departments of Sociology and Adult & Community Education are collaborating to develop thinking about critical pedagogy in community education; power and praxis in social movements and understandings of equality, transformation and sustainability. Three core strands of thinking will be explored in this course.
Closure of Community Development Projects In January, 14 CDPs had their funding cut following a review by the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. 13 are based in Dublin with one outside the capital. The announcement follows an appeals process in January 2010 with ten projects surviving. Campaigners have said both the review and appeals processes were flawed. The closure was followed by a protest outside the Dail in early February. Reacting to the announcement, the Community Workers Co-operative said ‘We would support
New Activation Measures
The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment recently launched a call for proposals under the Labour Market Activation Scheme. The Fund is to be targeted at assisting 3,500 unemployed peo4
1. Critical and praxis-oriented forms of thinking: critical adult and community education; critical media and cultural pedagogy; knowledge for social change; critical social and political theory; community art; politics of knowledge, utopian imagination and social change. 2. Understanding equality and inequality: economics of equality; development education; politics of gender; environmental justice; politics of sustainability; political economy and alternatives to capitalism; the search for good work; world-systems analysis. 3. Power, politics and praxis: social movements; active citizenship; critical community development; participatory and radical democracy; popular praxis; skills for grassroots organising; history and politics of social change; revolutionary theory and practice. This programme is designed to meet the needs of those involved in adult learning, community development, social movements, grassroots activism, workers in NGOs and state agencies, and advocates with minority groups. This is a full-time MA programme. For more information, please contact the Dept. of Adult and Community Education, NUI Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland at adcomed@nuim.ie or (+353-1) 7083937.
the right of the Department and any public body to periodically review projects and programmes that they fund. However, it is imperative that these types of review are fair and are seen to be fair. This was not the case in this instance”. The CWC also took issue with the appeals process, describing it as ‘flawed’. Minister John Curran responded that ‘the Department has set out a practical way forward for integrated service delivery and structures at the local level and is aware there is opposition to these among some groups and individuals. Given the lack of coherence in relation to the delivery of the old programmes, the concerns of the Public Accounts Committee at
the multitude of structures in the system, the criticisms in the McCarthy report, and the current budgetary reality, maintaining the status quo was never an option.' Minister Curran also refuted earlier allegations that the integration process meant he was effectively “sacking the volunteers” through the new programme and the alignment of structures. He added: ‘Our aim is to preserve and protect the volunteers on the current Boards of CDPs by giving them new roles on advisory councils for the programme locally, without the burden of company law requirements’ he said.
ple this year through the provision of education and training. This new initiative follows a number of activation measures introduced in the Supplementary Budget of last year. An OECD report Activation Policies in Ireland published in January 2009 found that spending here on active
labour market programmes was significantly lower than in other OECD countries. Reacting to the announcement, Berni Brady, Director of AONTAS said ‘Activation measures must be realistic, relevant, and lead to progression options' for learners.
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European News
Putting Learning for Life on UK General Election Agenda As part of the on-going CALL campaign, the Workers' Educational Association (WEA) and other organisations worked to put lifelong learning at the heart of the UK general election. By using the proposals of Learning Through Life in the run up to the elections, they aimed to place adult education firmly on the national political agenda through local constituency work across the country. Learning Through Life – the final report of the two year Independent Inquiry into the future of Lifelong Learning – will be used as an opportunity to begin a dialogue around adult education with local prospective parliamentary candidates. Students, members, volunteers, tutors and staff were invited to get involved and speak up on behalf of lifelong learning. Professor Tom Schuller, Director of the Inquiry into the Future of Lifelong Learning, said:"This is the first step
New international network launched Are you an adult education provider
offering Grundtvig courses or willing/ planning to do so? GINCO is a new international Grundtvig network of adult education organisations organising or planning to organise international in-service training courses eligible for participants to apply for a Grundtvig grant. Adult education staff can apply for a Grundtvig grant to attend an international in-service training course. This grant system is run by the National Agencies in all LLP countries. These international in-service training courses are provided Europe wide by adult education organisations in a Grundtvig project/network context or on an individual basis.
in what I hope will be a really broad debate around the country. The significant thing is that lifelong learning should be seen as an item for mainstream politics. It touches so many areas of people's lives. I'm very grateful to the WEA for their enthusiasm in getting this debate rolling." Professor Schuller took the proposals of Learning Through Life forward, at a discussion about the future of adult education with local prospective parliamentary candidates, in Folkestone in November 2009. A Speak Up for Lifelong Learning campaign pack has been produced by the WEA. The pack includes information on what happens in the run up to a general election, how to find out about prospective parliamentary candidates, how to arrange a local meeting with prospective parliamentary candidates and how to send a letter to candidates – alongside other supporting materials. A ready-made 'Pledge your support' postcard has also been produced. For more information visit www.niace.org.uk.
GINCO wants to network actual and potential Grundtvig course organisers, not only offering a forum for cooperation and exchange of expertise but also offering support for development, promotion of access, quality of delivery, accreditation and sustainability of their courses. This network will be organised through different strands of activities: research, production of relevant material, conferences, training days, Internet based networking activities etc.
International conference
key note speakers, workshops and examples of good practice, participants will share and learn about quality of Grundtvig courses, the use of innovative didactics and the appropriate use of ICT before, during and after the course. More information on this conference is in the Grundtvig course database: https:// webgate.ec.europa.eu/llp/istcoursedatabase/ with ref. nr. BE-2010-143001. Participants can apply for a grant (travel and accommodation costs covered, participation is free) under the action ‘Visits and exchanges’ of the Grundtvig programme. Please contact Léargas on 01 8731411 for further information.
Experienced and new Grundtvig course organisers will meet. Through
GINCO can provide useful material and can bring you in contact with colleagues and help share material and expertise. More information and networking activities on the network website: http://www.ginconet.eu/.
A first international conference on quality of and ICT use in Grundtvig courses will be organised in Izmir, Turkey, 27 – 30 October 2010.
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Opening Lines
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‘Because it’s worth it’
Everybody knows that learning makes people happier, healthier, better neighbours and citizens.
Berni Brady reflects on a whirlwind week of celebration, raising awareness, and keeping adult learning on the political agenda. Bright stars, razzmatazz, broad smiles, songs, certificates, the fourth Adult Learners’ Festival proved to be a magnificent celebration of learning. The holding of breath while the STAR judges plucked the winning name from the envelope and the outburst of cheers at being the ONE in 2010 said everything about how important learning is to the adults who were nominated for STARs. Despite the challenges presented by the current recession adult and community education learners from all sorts of groups, women, men, disability, recovering addicts, Travellers stepped up to the plate and provided us with the reason for resourcing learning for adults. It was magnificent and humbling at the same time. The voices of the singers from the “Song for All” project lit up the room and the hearts of everyone in it. “This is why it’s worth it”, someone said echoing the well worn L’Oreal ad. The STAR Awards Ceremony got the Festival off to a brilliant start.
Lobbying for learning
Later in the week the inspirational and powerful work undertaken in communities by community educators and learners filled the screen of the Lighthouse Cinema in Dublin and documented more reasons for resourcing learning for adults. By Friday AONTAS was ready to take its message to a higher level. The Adult Education Clinic organised as part of the Lobby for Learning day proved to be a highly effective way of bringing the current issues and challenges to the attention of the Minister for Lifelong Learning and his counterparts in the other political parties. Putting a human face on what adjusting “double payments” policy means in reality was testament to the financial struggle adults face in trying to pursue their learning to third level. How to sustain a quality service in the face of a public service moratorium was made real by the descriptions of the struggle to meet 6
Berni Brady with a panel of Education Spokespeople at the closing event of this years Festival.
Berni Brady with representatives from the Associated Craft Butchers of Ireland, winners in the workplace learning category
The stories from the members of the community education groups spoke volumes about what social inclusion really means. the needs of volunteers and adult learners when the Adult Literacy Organiser goes on maternity leave, falls sick or the Adult Education Officer retires and is not replaced. Hear us please was the message and look at the policies that are currently being pursued.
Festival around the country
A visit to County Cavan during the week, spending the whole day with the local VEC was both exhilarating and exhausting at the same time. The stories from the members of the community education
Opening Lines
groups spoke volumes about what social inclusion really means. Meeting your neighbours, sharing skills that are all but lost in a technological age, learning new ones, persuading more men to come, the importance of the rural bus, the need for broadband. Unpeeling the policy of social inclusion reveals a very simple and basic need to stay in touch with one another and keep minds and communities alive and active. Later working with the VEC team responsible for delivering the adult education service in the county a lively bunch of people shared ideas, stories,skills and a few good laughs. The striking thing about all these people, responsible for programmes ranging through Literacy, Youthreach, VTOS, BTEI etc is their commitment to adult learners, their dedication to their work and their pride when the learners achieve their goals. “Money can’t buy that” said someone. “Well, don’t be too hasty now, we could do with a new computer or two!”. And then the crowning glory. It’s awards night. Outside the temperature begins to drop and the
snow begins to clog up the driveway to the hotel. Undeterred more than 200 people turn up dressed in their best; kids, mammies, daddies and grannies in tow here to receive an award, maybe for the first time or maybe building on something already done. The excitement is infectious. Walking up the aisle to the podium, having your hand shaken, receiving a beautiful piece of paper, testament to a lot of hard work. Because it’s worth it. Later over a cup of tea a young Slovakian man who just received his ESOL award slips me a page with a thank you message written in Slovakian and English to everyone who has helped him. “Ireland is a fantastic place for education” he enthuses in perfect English. His accolade takes my breath away so refreshing is it in the midst of all the doom and gloom. Another man proudly introduces me to his basic English tutor telling me she has helped him to get a new lease of life. Years ago he thought about going back to finish his education but he just couldn’t summon up the courage. I can feel a little tug in my heart and am glad not to be in the office today. All over the country during the Festival week adult and community education was alive and active. With more than 350 events recorded on the Festival website hundreds of learners braved the cold on Green Learning day to learn how to go organic, or visit their local libraries, take a taster class in something never before tried or join a training session at work on Workplace Learning day. More reasons for resourcing learning for adults. “It’s just simple common sense” someone says, “Everybody knows that learning makes people happier, healthier, better neighbours and citizens. And we’re worth it.” That ad again. Maybe L’Oreal could sponsor the Festival. Now there’s a thought.
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Star Awards
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Star Awards
As the Stars shone brightly
This year thirteen outstanding adult education projects were recognised at the STAR awards ceremony on February 22nd 2010 at No. 6 Kildare Street. Niamh Farren profiles some of the winners. Scheduled in between the IFTAS and the Oscars is the STAR Awards ceremony for adult learning projects. And while you won’t find George Clooney or Neil Jordan in the audience, the atmosphere is just as electric.
The three nominated Munster projects with Minister for Lifelong Learning Sean Haughey
For the first time, this year AONTAS made the decision to withhold the names of the winning projects in advance of the ceremony. Instead, a shortlist composed of the Judges top three projects in each category was released to all nominated projects as well as local media three weeks before the event. For all projects who made the shortlist, it’s a real achievement. 2009 will be remembered for some tough challenges in the sector – cuts in public expenditure meant that groups were dealing with decreasing resources, while unexpected floods swept through Ireland causing untold damage to homes and communities throughout the country. In anticipation of a high number of nominations AONTAS established a stellar judging panel, representing a wide range of interests within the sector – from the VECs to the Small Firms Association and ICTU. The Judging Panel of sixteen 8
as `Go For It`, which attempts to address the gender balance in adult education through engaging more men, Trade Union programmes targeted at lower skilled members of the workforce, and projects which bridge the digital divide with older people.
Some of thirteen awards which were given to outstanding adult learning projects
representatives formed three smaller panels, each reviewing a number of categories and directed through the process by three different chairpersons. The Judging process itself constitutes a way for AONTAS to promote models of best practice to key stakeholders in the sector. As has been the case in previous years, the quality of work presented, the creativity used to make more from diminishing resources, and the commitment of both providers and learners alike shone through the applications.
As adult/community education responds directly to the needs of individuals and communities, this year we saw projects which reflect a changing society . Who would have thought that a group of volunteers from KPMG could work with residents from Dublins inner city, desiging a programme for them to help them manage their money better? Or that Freirean principles could be applied to a nationwide initiative which gets people sharing their gardening and growing expertise? This year saw projects such
Celebrating and inspiring were key objectives of the ceremony. Perhaps it was the quality of the projects, or maybe it was the surprise element which added to the emotion of the occasion, but there was something particularly special about this gathering. The preoccupation with economic matters was suspended, to spend a few hours celebrating the achievements of those who have made it all the way to No. 6. There’s a national radio presenter, who thanks a stint on a FÁS scheme for her successful broadcasting career. There are inspirational words of encouragement from FETAC’s Andrina Wafer. The Discovery Gospel Choir raised
the roof, and got everyone dancing, even Minister for Lifelong Learning Sean Haughey. There are endless photos, and finally, silence for two of the women from ‘A Song for All’ – who later this year will make their way from Carlow to Carnegie Hall.
Leinster Local STAR – The Revamp Project
Unfortunately there can only be one winner in each category. Here’s a snapshot of this years winners.
The Revamp project is a non-profit making furniture recycling and reuse project established in 2002 as a social enterprise to reduce waste and provide training for young people from a welfare dependent background. The project is based in Longford.
Dublin Local STAR – RADE
Munster Local STAR – The Downtown Centre
RADE, who won this award for the second year running, engages recovering drug users in arts activities by working with their inherent creativity to use it as a resource and promoting positive change. Through working with professional artists towards public productions the programme competes in an active way with the passive stimulation experienced by drug taking and helps to promote self education, confidence and self esteem.
The Downtown Centre is an access, guidance and support centre for adults (aged 18 plus) who are seeking to progress to higher education. The Centre is a collaborative initiative of the Shannon Consortium partners – the University of Limerick, Limerick Institute of Technology, Mary Immaculate College and the Institute of Technology Tralee – and is funded by the Higher Education Authority Strategic Innovation Fund, Cycle One. 9
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Star Awards
The Discovery Gospel Choir raise the roof
Ulster Local STAR – The First Steps Women’s Centre
For eleven years "First Steps Women’s Centre" has been a beacon of hope and support for many women in the local community. The centre has reached out and provided recreational and accredited training for those who need a helping hand and a friend to talk to. From their humble beginnings in 1998 many women have entered into the world of First Steps Women's Centre in Dungannon, Co. Tyrone.
Connaught Local and Regional STAR – The Luisne Art Project
The Luisne Art Project was developed in 2005 by a group of Artists in collaboration with The Crann Mor Centre, Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo. It is an Arts Disability Programme. The members of the Crann Mor cen10
Orla Barry, Newstalk broadcaster, guest speaker
tre meet at TACU Family Resource Centre, Ballinrobe for weekly facilitated workshops. The purpose of the programme has been to establish a long-term art project of quality, which responds to the talents and needs of the participants of the centre.
Dublin Regional STAR – Soilse Career Guidance Service
The aim of the Soilse Career Guidance Service is to facilitate participants in planning future careers, provide career guidance, and in turn help participants to address obstacles to progression. Participants in Soilse all come from a drug addiction background, having experienced extreme forms of social exclusion, manifest by homelessness, criminal records, early school leaving, no work history, family breakdown and poor life expectancy.
Leinster Regional STAR – the Longford Adult Educational Guidance Service
Co. Longford Adult Educational Guidance Service was established in 2001. The aim of Co. Longford Adult Educational Guidance Service is to provide a professional and comprehensive educational guidance service to adults returning to education and training.
Munster Regional STAR – The National Learning Network
The National Learning Network Focus Programme aims to empower participants with mental ill health to avail of opportunities to enhance their personal development, community integration, vocational orientation and physical and mental well-being. The project is based in Raheen in Limerick.
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Star Awards
Andrina Wafer from FETAC
Selina O’Leary from the ‘Song for All’ project
Ulster Regional STAR – The Women’s Health and Wellbeing Programme
supports the application of learning in the workplace. The course is extremely flexible and is open to any student who is part-time, fulltime or volunteering in an agency.
Over the past eighteen months Donegal Women's Network, in partnership with the Women's Health Development Officer HSE West, have designed, developed and delivered a Women's Health and Well Being Programme. This programme is now being rolled out in County Sligo and it is envisaged that it will also be delivered in County Leitrim.
Nationwide STAR – The Open Training College
The degree course in Applied Social Studies at the Open Training College is offered to adult learners nationwide working in the disability sector. It is founded on a three-way collaborative approach between the College, the employing agency and the student, which
Once Off STAR – How to Learn English
The aim of this radio documentary series is to offer a practical ‘road map’ for learning English as a second language in Ireland and throw light on the practical steps people can take to learning the English language. This project also gives a great insight into the practical advice, support and encouragement Irish people can offer someone who is learning English or struggling to communicate in the English language.
Rising STAR – A Song For All
The ‘Song For All’ project is a partnership between the Carlow Education and Training Centre, a
Senior Traveller Training Centre, and the University of Limerick. The project aims to provide a programme of study for members of the Traveller community to further both their musical education and their personal development.
Workplace Learning STAR – Certificate in Butchering Skills
The programme leads to a certified qualification; the National Certificate in Butchering Skills (NCBS), which is FETAC approved. This is the first national qualification for butchers in the history of the state. It comprises of eight modules four of which were developed by the Association of Craft Butchers of Ireland. All are individually FETAC certified and together constitute the NCBS. For more information about the winners, highly commended and shortlisted projects, visit www. adultlearnersfestival.com. 11
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Stars under the Spotlight
‘Getting the Balance Right’ The Open Training College
The Open Training College in St Michaels House was recently singled out for their pioneering approach to adult education, receiving the Nationwide STAR award for their BA Programme in Applied Social Studies (Disability). Niamh Farren recently took time out to meet the staff team at their base in Goatstown. A bright and welcoming attic fully renovated into a meeting room seems like the perfect venue to meet staff from the Open Training College. I’m meeting a mixed group – from tutors on the programme, to managers, administrators and course co-ordinators. As they unravel the various elements of the programme I realise that it would have been a hard ask for one staff member to fully describe the breadth of this initiative – weaving together a variety of supports for learners and exploiting the potential of technology, ultimately with the aim of enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities. The College itself is completely self financing, located within the Goatstown regional headquarters of St. Michaels House in Goatstown, Dublin 14. The College itself was developed in response to the needs of staff working within the disability sector. As is the experience with other community organisations, people working within the sector felt that their own work would benefit from training and qualifications. Karen Finnerty, College Director, explains how ‘generic training courses just weren’t meeting the needs of staff on the ground – we had people who were highly skilled, but with no formal qualifications.’ What started out as a two-year certificate course has evolved into a fully developed BA in Applied Social Studies (Disability), with currently approximately 350 adults around the country engaged at various stages of the programme.
Accreditation and flexibility
There is a strong philosophy and mission behind the course. Raymond Watson, Course Director explains ‘we recognised that people needed something accredited, but also the need for flexibility and accessibility. Adult
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Karen Finnerty and Conor Brady accept their award
learners may be juggling a variety of life experiences even before they come to the college. They may be already involved in a busy family life and a stressful work environment, and now they’re taking on a Level 7 degree. For that to work, you need to provide a model that’s accessible and flexible. At the same time its important not to lose the validity of the learning. In addition, the content is best practice in relation to human services. It is that change on the ground that is key, where you have change initiated by the person, change by the organisation, and change by service users within that organisation.’ Those studying the Social Services Programme are transforming the services, bit by bit. So there is a very strong value base to the course.’
‘generic training courses just weren’t meeting the needs of staff on the ground – we had people who were highly skilled, but with no formal qualification.’
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Stars under the Spotlight
The programme is very much geared to effecting change in services. There are opportunities to reflect on the academic side of things and consider real world applications, quizzes and assignments set within the learner’s own environment. ‘Adult learners need to see that their learning is relevant’ observes Alacoque McAuley Savage, course tutor. Different learning styles are acknowledged in the classroom and academic staff have a strong practical background, so that the material is useful, and has a real world application. ‘We are constantly integrating our own experience and feedback into the course,’ adds Karen. Adult learners at the Open Training College come from all walks of life – from 23 up to their late fifties and early sixties and with a range of educational experiences. The diversity of learning needs amongst students informs all elements of the course, from registration, to student support, right through to the delivery of the modules. This blended learning approach includes virtual tutorials, individual phone tutorials with a course tutor, skills workshops conducted in Dublin, Galway and Cork centres, online discussion groups as well as assignments. Technology is key. “Learning as an adult can be isolating”, says Aine Melinn, Assistant College Director, so online supports are available throughout the course. But technophobes and late adapters are also catered for, with a separate support module which enables students to take full advantage of technology as they study. Potential problems or hiccups are ironed out by the staff team as they arise ensuring that the programme is continually developing and constitutes a learning exercise for those delivering the course. ‘We can react very quickly to the needs of the students’, says Conor Murray, Corporate Services Manager. ‘We test, review and apply the learning.’
A diverse approach
At its earliest stage the course adopted a modular approach to the delivery of the course. Ahead of its time, in the early 1990s, this approach was particularly effective in allowing adults to ‘dip out and dip into’ the course depending on their own personal circumstances – which could include anything from an unexpected
Open Training College Graduates
‘you need to provide a model that’s accessible and flexible. At the same time its important not to lose the validity of the learning’. illness, to a changed financial situation, or a pregnancy – all of which might otherwise cause an adult to defer the course. A distinct learning culture which has evolved around the particular needs of adult learners, and not just by chance, is evident. Judy Kavanagh, College Administrator, is a frontline member of staff who deals directly with all of the students. ‘She is the human face of the college, she knows all the students. That personal touch is really important,’ explains Karen. Mick Keating, currently the Co-ordinator of the Honours Degree Year 4 group is himself a successful graduate of the BA Programmes. He entered the course in his late twenties while working as a Care Assistant, within St Michael’s House. The development of his career, to his position within the College today, he believes, reflects the flexible supports provided to him, and the values he shares with the ethos of the College. ‘What I liked about it most was how useful and applicable the assignments were to my frontline work’ he said, ‘It gave me the confidence and opportunity to apply my learning, and this allowed me to make an impact on the lives of people with a disability, it is this, that inspires me to influence students today.’ 13
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Stars under the Spotlight
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Stars under the Spotlight
A Focused Approach
The Focus Programme run by the National Learning Network was the winner of the Munster Regional STAR. The network itself has training centres throughout the country which offer a variety of training programmes to over 5000 learners each year. The aim of the Focus programme is to empower participants with mental ill health to avail of opportunities to enhance their personal development, community integration, vocational orientation and physical and mental well-being. In this article, Niamh Farren spoke to Lisa Haugh, Area Manager for Limerick and Carlow.
How does the Focus programme differ to conventional approaches to mental health? A workshop at the Open Training College
So what impact has the recession had on the Open Training College? Many of the organisations they work with are experiencing the brunt of cuts in public expenditure, which would lead you to believe that numbers on the course may have dropped – but that’s not the case. In fact the number of students on the honours degree has doubled, explains Karen. ‘When you take into consideration the fact that the majority of students are self financing, this speaks volumes about the quality and effectiveness of the courses delivered.’ Like many organisations which interact directly with adults, the issue of parity of esteem for adult learners is a big issue for the College. ‘We refer our students to information about financial supports’, says Finnerty, ‘but the reality is that those supports just aren’t there for adults who want to pursue their education on a part time basis. There is currently no parity of funding for adult learners, and the system really needs to change that’, she says.
Measuring success
The College is full of success stories – from the visually impaired student who is currently taking the programme, to a number of non-Irish nationals who have completed the course. Learners from around the country can log into the Open Training College and take part in workshops near to their own communities.
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Like many organisations which interact directly with adults, the issue of parity of funding for adult learners is a big issue for the College. ‘The partnership element of the programme which involves us, the employer and the learner, really helps us when it comes to measuring success, says Karen. When we’ve gone back to the agencies (employers) the feedback has been really positive. We can also measure the student’s progress from their assignments. We get a lot of repeat business, which would indicate that we are doing well.’ This year, the College has received substantial peer recognition in the form of the AONTAS STAR Award. It is the first thing you see when you enter their office. The notice board displays emails, cards and messages from colleagues congratulating their achievements. ‘Its real recognition and validation of our work’ says Finnerty. ‘Being involved in adult education since 1992, this goes to the core of who we are. It’s a great sense of pride, for students as well as staff.’ For more information about the Open Training College visit www.opentrainingcollege.com.
In this programme, the principle of participant involvement has been underlined by the involvement of people with mental ill health in the design of the programme. Prospective participants have been interviewed and their input has had a direct impact on the programme’s design, content and location. One of the main differences between the Focus programme and conventional approaches to mental health is the vast range of inputs from a range of stakeholders such as therapeutic management teams, family/carers and wider community groups. In addition, strong emphasis is placed on the participants setting individual objectives and regularly reviewing their own progress through the mechanism of the Individual Action Plan. We believe that the Focus programme also differs to many conventional adult education settings in its unique approach to learning where all learners are involved in designing, delivering and evaluating course content. The main aim of
the Focus programme is health and social gain, which has a different interpretation for each participant. We therefore endeavor to apply a holistic, unique, flexible and individual approach to learning where peer tutoring is encouraged.
What elements of the programme work particularly well?
Our strong links with local community agencies involves regular contact with local adult education providers, HSE staff and community groups e.g., tours of local colleges, invited speakers from community advocacy groups, citizen’s information etc. Furthermore, work experiences are provided locally and Focus also provide opportunities for local college students to complete a work experience on their programme.
Representatives from the Focus Programme receive their award
Regular social outings and visits to places of historical interest have encouraged an interest in local arts and culture as well as developing friendships and having fun.
A relaxed, friendly, secure and non-judgmental environment where learners are supported to achieve their individual health and social goals has proved valuable and worthwhile.
Students are constantly asked for feedback during the 12-month course period and have always commented on the opportunity the course provides for them to develop and explore their hidden talents as well as acquire new skills and knowledge.
In conjunction with the Irish Advocacy Network, the delivering of the FETAC Self Advocacy module helps to develop group, communication and coping skills.
Each 6-8 weeks two or three students gather articles from the group and produce a newsletter, which is circulated locally to stakeholders and relevant community groups. 15
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Stars under the Spotlight
How do you measure success with a programme like this?
Success has been measured quantitatively by the number of FETAC Major awards and modules completed, progression to employment, employer based training and further training. On the other hand, the qualitative success of the training course is measured by a Self Evaluation of Wellbeing questionnaire which is used four times through the 12 month period of the course and is used to measure health and social gain. Moreover, throughout the year, students record their own personal successes and goals achieved in health, confidence and community integration.
What kind of challenges are there to operating the programme?
The stigma often associated with mental ill health is sometimes a barrier to participants being open to attending a rehabilitative training programme. Equally, the general perception of some local business’s can be a barrier to seeking work experience for students on the programme.
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Learning Communities
Learning Communities
How are participants identified to take part in the programme?
Participants are identified through the Occupational Guidance Officers (HSE), local day hospitals and mental health services. Potential participants are invited to open coffee mornings held throughout the year where they get a chance to view the programme, meet with staff and also get an overview of the content of programme from existing participants.
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On Wednesday February 24th, to coincide with ‘Learning Communities’ around the country, AONTAS launched a series of programmes about community education. Called ‘Beyond the Classroom’ – for the first time these programmes seek to describe the process and practice of community education. Niamh O’Reilly explains how the programmes developed.
Eamon Nunan paints the Focus wall. Each trainee gets a square – and It is up to each trainee how they illustrate a particular theme on their own square.
John’s story*
John lives in a rural community. John had moved on several occasions throughout his schooling, which impacted negatively on his education, both academically and socially. John completed his leaving certificate exam, and went on to third level education. He did not complete this, leaving the university in second year; he states that this was because of depression and panic attacks. During John’s time in university John reports that he experimented with smoking hash and other drugs. John worked in several shortterm factory jobs following college. These did not work out for him and he spent several years at home. John was diagnosed with schizophrenia. John was taking medication and was referred to the focus programme by psychiatric services. John stated that he found it difficult to make friends and stated that he felt isolated, especially
Learner, Shane Drought studies at his desk.
without transport in a rural community. He presented as extremely shy and lacked motivation. John was very academic but was not confident in his ability. John found it hard to communicate with others on a social level, but was a deep thinker. John needed a lot of encouragement to give his opinion, despite his good knowledge of a topic. John spent twelve months on the Focus programme and took part in reviews, goal setting, group work as well as social outings. On completion of the Focus programme John returned to third level education in a University. He has kept regular contact with the Focus staff and has shared his computer expertise with the learners on the Focus programme. John is now on his final year of college and expects to graduate with a first class honours degree. John’s* name has been changed to protect his identity.
Joe Kelly, who took part in the series
‘Beyond the Classroom’ – a powerful outcome of the Community Education Network
Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Emer Costello, officially launched the television programmes “Beyond the Classroom” at the Lighthouse cinema on Learning Communities day during the AONTAS Adult Learners’ Festival. A selection of footage was shown to an audience of over 100 people, many of whom were participants in the programmes. The programmes were produced by Dublin Community Television (DCTV) in partnership with the AONTAS Community Education Network from funds obtained through the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland’s Sound and Vision Funding Scheme. The three programmes give an overview of community education: The Practitioners, which focuses on the theory of community education; The Communities which cover four case studies of community education in action; and The Learners which provides the learners’ experience and view of community education.
“the way the community views itself, sees itself, shapes its own life – I think thats the outcome…” (Liz Waters, An Cosán) A number of programme participants provided the context for each of the programmes: Liz Waters, CEO of An Cosan for The Practitioners programme, Joe Murdiff, Founder and Development Director of MAIN for The Communities programme and Liam Kilbride, Education Development Officer with Presentation South East, for The Learners programme. Ciaran Kissane from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and Ciaran Murray from DCTV spoke at the event in terms of the importance of the programmes themselves and the process in which they were made. Initially transmitted on Dublin Community Television (Chorus NTL 802). Beyond the Classroom was sequentially released online each week following the Festival and will form a set of DVDs that will act as a learning tool, as a means to promote 17
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Ciaran Kissane from the BAI (Broadcasting Authority of Ireland), who funded the project
community education to potential learners, for lobbying and for raising the profile to the general public. These innovative, creative, critical, educational, and entertaining programmes that focus on real people and communities form the 'Beyond the Classroom' series which not only capture the spirit of community education but also point a way for community television. John Breslin from DCTV who was involved in the production process, explained how the production was a mutual learning exercise. ‘Inherent to both are principles of empowerment and active participation. Community education encourages the learner to become involved in their own coursework and select exactly what they want to learn about, while community media encourages participants to get their own stories across by making media themselves rather than be used by corporate/state media. The three programmes are outlined below:
Beyond the Classroom: The Practitioners
The theory of community education was discussed in a studio session between community education practitioners and activists by reflecting on footage of community education in practice. Ranging from political activism and insights from learners to the creativity of RADE (Recovery through Art, Drama and Education) the dialogue focused on the distinct
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Learning Communities
Getting ready to watch the programmes
It was through genuine engagement with our subject that we adapted to a new and innovative format for studio discussion programmes. (DCTV) nature of community education and the outcomes to the individual and community. Presented by Dr Anne Louise Gilligan it is framed as a 3 part series and a single, 'as live' document of the 90 minute conversation, it offers an overview of the variety of perspectives regarding the theory of community education. From the round table set, to the care and attention of the words from these inspiring educationalists and activists, this is not television that talks down to an audience but rather an opportunity to consider some of the most important questions for our communities today. The philosophy of community education informed the development of a set for this programme, explained John Breslin from DCTV. ‘For a groundbreaking studio discussion on community education, we employed one of the key features of community learning by building a round seated set that provides seating for up to twelve people. This more inclusive and discursive setting gave ten people who have been deeply involved with the sector over the last 25 years a chance to provide a frank and vibrant analysis of the state of community education in 2010.’
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Learning Communities
A packed audience in attendance
The process was a long one but it was an example of genuine engagement between DCTV and AONTAS producing TV that was true to the principles of both our organisations.
Beyond the Classroom: The Communities
Four case studies spanning the last 30 years provide an insight into community education in action. The history of community education from a Travellers’ group, in the suburbs of Dublin (Tallaght and Kilbarrack) and an inner city men’s group paint a diverse picture from which community education has emerged in order to address the needs of individuals and their community. The stories not only talk about community education though. They give us the stories of Dublin’s communities that are not often heard – the success stories where those central actors look back at what they have achieved, at how their work has transformed not only themselves but their communities.
Beyond the Classroom: The Learners’ experiences
Framed as a communication from current learners to those who are considering doing a community education course this 45 minute TV programme deals with the issues that new and prospective learners
face as they embark on this journey. Topics discussed include challenges facing learners from childcare and integrating community education with day to day life, to issues around identity and confidence – thinking of yourself as a learner and how to deal with this new role. Honest and approachable this programme is facilitated by Liam Kilbride as a community education session within itself. Not only are the words spoken by the participants important – but the supportive atmosphere and use of experiential learning techniques is demonstrated by the participants. These programmes are just one of the outcomes of the AONTAS Community Education Network which aims to gain recognition for, raise the profile of and resource community education. In the coming months we will be developing DVDs for distribution. We hope AONTAS members will take the time to view these programmes, to promote them and to let us know how best they can be used. You are the experts and we want your involvement in creating a useful tool that can be used by practitioners, learners and the general public. We look forward to hearing from you! Contact Niamh O’Reilly noreilly@aontas.com Watch online: Dublin Community Television DCTV (Channel 802): www.dctv.ie Learn more about the AONTAS Community Education Network: http://www.aontas.com/commed/networkcen.html
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Green Learning
Green Learning
Green learning day took place on Wednesday 24th of February this year, with events held by adult education centres, environmental and gardening groups. Here’s a snapshot of what took place.
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Reports from around the Country
Festival around the Country This year saw a substantial increase in the number of events taking place – with three hundred and fifty events listed on www.adultlearnersfestival.com. In this article we take a look at some of the events that happened around the country in the words of some of the event organisers.
Polytunnels in Tipperary provide learning opportunities
This year, for the first time AONTAS ran a ‘Green Learning Day’ – to promote education on the themes of sustainable energy, recycling, gardening, or anything green. AONTAS also partnered with GIY (Grow it Yourself Ireland), who ran a number of events throughout the week. ‘GIY groups are local food growers networks that recreate the camaraderie of allotment growing for back-garden vegetable growers by getting them together on a regular basis to learn from each other and exchange tips, war-stories and produce, explains GIY founder Michael Kelly. GIY Ireland plans to have a GIY centre in every county in Ireland, and new groups are being set up all the time. In addition, the green theme was taken up by a number of adult education centres throughout the country. St. Mary's Adult Education
Thanks to all those who came on a very cold Tuesday morning and we hope to have inspired all our visitors to get gardening! 20
Centre in Limerick held a "Going Green" Coffee Morning. A presentation on Sustainable Energy in the Home was delivered by Christy Flanagan on the day and each person who attended was given a piece of paper with an energy saving tip. These were shared and swapped around.
From Cooking to Beekeeping
Despite unseasonably cold temperatures, gardening enthusiasts turned out in their droves to attend events that were happening. There were drop-in horticulture classes in Clare, as well as a special screening of ‘an Inconvenient Truth’ for those who wanted to escape the cold. The Banner bee-keepers ran lectures, demos and Q and As on beekeeping. In Portlaoise, the local GIYs held a session on planning a kitchen garden. There were cookery demonstrations in Co. Monaghan, and composting talks in Clonmel. In Dublin, Cultivate, The Sustainable Living and Learning Centre, held an information session on learning opportunities for a sustainable world from their new base at the
Greenhouse on Andrew Street. In Cashel, learners from the Organic Food growing course run through the Back to Education Initiative with South Tipperary VEC held an open day. The group has run a course in organic food every Friday since 2009, covering anything from the origins of local food, sources of seeds, cuttings and plants, designing a local food garden, and using local food for health. The Open Day featured workshops on seedsowing and plant transplanting, how to set up a backyard garden, food tasting on local and seasonal food, practical skills and how to set up a community garden. Kaye Mullaney, BTEI Co-ordinator, explained, ‘What we do depends on the weather – practical work in the gardens in Haigs Terrace, when the weather allows. During the days that the group can’t get out, we use the training rooms of the newly renovated VEC Adult Education Centre in the town.’ For more information about GIY Ireland, visit www.giyireland.com.
Gathering information in Westmeath
Munster Local libraries in Clare ran a number of events for all tastes, writes Frances O’Gorman
Libraries play an important role in adult learning and Clare County Library was delighted to be involved in the celebrations. During the week a variety of events took place at libraries around the county, including displays of books dealing with environmental issues. The ‘green’ theme ran throughout the week
They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.
with the film ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ at the DeValera Library, Ennis on Tuesday 23rd February and the film ‘March of the Penguins’ at the same library on Friday 26th February. A film on ‘Lifelong Learning’ by the Clare Lifelong Learning Network was shown there at various times during the week. An introduction to the Local Studies Library took place at the Local Studies Centre, Harmony Row, Ennis on Wednesday and Thursday. The mobile information unit of the Citizens Information Services visited libraries throughout the county. Sean Lemass Public Library, Shannon, marked the Adult Learners
Festival with an Information display on education programmes and facilities available to adults in the Shannon area. These include the Back to Education Initiatives, Adult guidance, Community education, basic education services and more. Shannon Library also facilitates FÁS e College. A FÁS tutor attends the Library on Wednesdays 1.00 – 3.00pm and Thursdays 10.00 – 12.00 noon when adults learn and update their computer skills. All of the Festival events were free.
I am very grateful to have a chance in life to learn computers and I am on my second art class here. 21
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Reports from around the Country
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Reports from around the Country
There is no doubt that education opens up new opportunities. It gives you a sense of belonging and shapes your future.
IT Demo: Lucinda Stephens with tutor Clara McCabe in Youthreach Kilbeggan Cookery Class: Christy Joyce, Johnny Joyce and Hughie Joyce
Full FETAC Award Presented to Local Mum at Launch of LCEN Strategic Plan, writes Suzanne Kyle in Limerick
The Deputy Mayor of Limerick, Cllr. Ger Fahy, launched the Limerick Community Education Network (LCEN) strategic plan 2010 – 2013. In his speech he highlighted the importance of adult and community education and said “regeneration is not just about building houses- it’s about building communities, and education is a very important part of that”.
We learn from standing on the shoulders of giants. “The plan demonstrates LCEN’s commitment to the provision of quality adult learning opportunities and helps to raise the profile of this critical, but often invisible, sector which is so important in the lives of many people across Limerick City” said Mary Hamilton, 22
Connection is the oil that eases away the loneliness. Adult Education Officer with the City of Limerick VEC. During the ceremony, young mother Emily O’ Donoghue, was presented with a full FETAC Level 5 Childcare certificate. Emily had completed a number of modules in different centres throughout the city, including St. Mary’s Adult Education Centre, Our Lady of Lourdes Community Centre, Moyross Adult Education Centre and Limerick Senior College. The achievement highlights the flexibility of community education where learners can participate in courses in many different centres but that their achievements can be brought together and recognised nationally through the FETAC accreditation system. Two other participants of community education courses, Christy
Flanagan and Phyllis Sheehan, also spoke. “I have made a lot of new friends through the centre. I am more outgoing and can speak to people more freely. The tutors and the staff are very pleasant and supportive and I feel I can ask them anything to help me with my learning” said Phyllis. Christy spoke about the Limerick City Adult Learner Forum, which represents adult learners on the LCEN. “We hope to continue to be a voice for learners into the future and any issues learners may have can be brought to any forum members” he said. The importance of community education in initiating other
Returning to education after many years brought me back to life. Enlightenment, confidence, fun, friends and knocked 20 years off me.
community activities was highlighted by Adult Education Tutor, Karen Tierney. She was speaking to two groups, from Southill and St. Munchin’s Family Resource Centre, who had participated in a gardening course and, through this, entered a competition which resulted in a grant towards a community food initiative which will be administered by Paul Partnership. This initiative will promote healthy living and eating by supporting communities to grow food in their own areas. Brian Mitchell, also an Adult Education tutor, spoke of the importance of Community Education in combating social isolation and said some people would rarely leave their homes without their classes.
Programme, Limerick Regeneration Agency, Paul Partnership, City of Limerick VEC and all the members of the LCEN. A special thanks was given to Sean O’ Dwyer, outgoing chair of the LCEN who had spearheaded much of the work of the strategic plan. He pointed out that the LCEN were very pleased to be launching their plan during the AONTAS Adult Learners’ Festival on “Learning Communities” day which is about recognising the role community education plays in the
development of communities as a whole and in the participation of citizens in that development.
A learning tree showed the power of learning at LIT, writes Dawn Coleman
On Monday 22nd February, Limerick Institute of Technology launched a Learning Tree in our Moylish Park Campus. Adult learners studying at LIT (mature full time, part time and lifelong learning students) were invited to participate by reflecting on their experience as
Regeneration is not just about building houses – it’s about building communities, and education is a very important part of that.
Jimmy Prior, chair of the LCEN, thanked the following agencies for their support: The RAPID
We gave out a lot of information and assisted people with their enquiries.
Emily O'Donoghue receives her FETAC cert 23
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Reports from around the Country
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Reports from around the Country students who commented on how useful it was to get their own adult learners points of view and were also impressed with the amount of support that is available in LIT for full time adult learners.
Gardening, dancing, learning wishes and quick reads in Tipperary, writes Veronica Crowe
Bollywood comes to Co. Tipperary
• Nothing like education in life, happy to be part of the evolution. Back to school is back to life. Learning a new dance
an adult learner and then to write out a statement in relation to how this experience has affected their lives, and placing it on the learning tree. This learning tree was officially unveiled by the President of LIT, Dr. Maria Hinfelaar and was prominently displayed and available for students throughout the week. There were many interesting and thought-provoking comments placed on the tree over the week. For example: • Adult learning has given me a new found confidence in myself to achieve all my goals in life. This in turn will help me to encourage my children to pursue further education.
Art Class : James O Reilly, Jason Stephens, Sean Kemp pictured with their art tutor Liz Johnson 24
• Learning has helped me gain new friendships. The skills I have learned will help me in the future.
• Learning has given me focus, purpose and lots of like minded friends. I have a new found understanding for my children’s experience of learning. Limerick Institute of Technology also hosted a coffee morning for prospective adult learners on Wednesday 24th February from 11.15am to 12.15pm. LIT invited students from a number of local Adult Education Facilities to attend this event in order to meet and greet their current mature learners. This enabled prospective adult learners to chat to the current adult learners to get their perspective on student life. The aim was to inspire and give confidence to adults who are unsure or nervous about full time education. The coffee morning was a success and they received great feedback from
South Tipperary VEC launched its week of events on Friday, February 19th at 10:00 a.m. in CTI, The Mall, Clonmel. Eileen Condon, VEC Adult Education Officer, introduced the event, which included adult learners talking about their experiences of returning to education and a perspective from an employer engaged in up-skilling opportunities for employees who are early-
school leavers. Paul Deegan from Alza/Cordis in Cashel and his employee, Maura, highlighted the benefits of workplace learning in partnership with the VEC and FÁS. Eileen Condon spoke of the need to keep adult learning on the political agenda with 30% of the workforce only having their Junior Certificate as their highest qualification. The festival was attended by VEC Chairperson, Cllr. John Fahey and Chairperson of the Adult Education Board, Cllr. Liam Ahearn, as well as Fionuala McGeever, CEO. Jim and Nuala Roche and Mathúin Ó Caoimh provided live music for the multicultural “Cashel Set” that included dancers from all different countries. The residents of Bridgewater House in Carrick on Suir provided
Cork learners display their work 25
Explore an African dance down the aisles and three women from Eastern Europe danced to “Jai-Ho”, the theme from Slumdog Millionaire. Another feature of the event was a selection of stands that gave a flavour of the type of learning that is happening in South Tipperary. Also, visitors were invited to “make a learning wish” and this was tied onto a branch of the learning tree. Tea/coffee concluded the event. Community education groups studying arts and craft displayed their work at local libraries. In Cahir Library, a series of free workshops were given by the VEC’s VTOS Multi-Media group. On Tuesday, February 23rd, the VEC went green for “Green Learning Day.” In collaboration with Aimsir Bia Gardens on the Cahir Road in
Reports from around the Country Cashel, there were hands-on demonstrations throughout the morning in the following:
“It is our aim to continue to provide a quality service to all adult learners.”
• Seed-sowing and transplanting,
The following anonymous quote about the tutor/learner relationship sums up our approach:
• How to have a backyard garden, • Food tasting on seasonal food, • How to set up a community garden. Wellies were a must have! Also, the South Tipperary VEC Adult Learning Scheme began a Quick Reads Book Club for its learners, based in the libraries in Clonmel and Cashel. The two groups met during the week of the Festival. South Tipperary VEC Adult Education Service would like to thank everyone, in particular the learners, for making the 2010 Adult Learners Festival a huge success.
“They may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.”
Leinster Library tours and gardening tips in Edenderry, writes Miriam Williams
To celebrate the festival, Edenderry Library invited local adult learner groups to the library for a tour and to showcase their work. Edenderry library was delighted to display work from Edenderry ICA, especially as this is the centenary
Explore year of the ICA countrywide. Students from the ‘Foundation for Employment Program’, Rhode had a library tour on Tuesday and their work was on display for the week. There was also a display of each member’s written personal account of his/her experience in returning to learning and photographs from the group. On Wednesday evening the Library held a talk given by Sean Corrigan of the GIY (Grow It Yourself) group on growing your own food. This initial talk was with a view to setting up a support group in Edenderry Library. GIY networks aim to take the ''self'' out of ''self-sufficiency'' by getting backgarden growers together on a regular basis to talk, learn from each other and exchange tips, produce and war-stories! Also on Wednesday the ‘Women Returning to Learning’ programme, Edenderry had a tour of the library, followed by tea and biscuits to celebrate the week that was in it. This programme is financially supported by the Department of Justice,
A cross cultural gathering in Co. Tipperary 26
Time for a break in Westmeath
Reports from around the Country Equality and Law Reform through the Equality for Women Measure, the National Women’s Strategy and the European Social Fund (ESF).
Friendships, celebrations and demonstrations at Co. Westmeath VEC Adult Education Service writes Anne Maree O’Brien
The festival kicked off on Tuesday 23rd February in the Further Education Centre, Kilbeggan with an Open Day. The centre only opened in September 2009 so this was a great opportunity to show off the new premises. The Open Day was a huge success. Many of the local people came to support and to have a look around the centre. They were all interested in the programmes being provided and delighted to meet the students and see their work on display. The students provided demonstrations in woodwork, IT, art and cooking the freshly baked scones and buns added to the welcoming atmosphere in the centre. On Wednesday 24th February the Adult Education Centre, Athlone hosted 'Bring a Friend Day'. Students from South Westmeath adult learning programmesbrought a friend with them for the day. They sat in on specially provided classes – Cooking in the morning and horticulture in the tunnel in the afternoon. They were very impressed with the centre and the facilities on offer. They will come back again. "I am delighted to have joined you on 'Bring a Friend Day'. It
Cllr Dan McCarthy, Mr Mick Dollard and Rina McKenna AEO Co. Westmeath VEC
was so nice to meet Nuala, Mary, Angela's class, friends and the VEC staff. You can invite me next year,” said Ursula who attended. Thursday 25th February saw the Launch of Co. Westmeath VEC Adult Education Service Annual Report & Coffee Morning for Haiti in the Adult Education Centre, Mullingar. The coffee morning was a massive hit. It received support from all the organisations in the business park as well as the students and staff. A total of b575.55 was raised for Haiti. Local CE Schemes also displayed their mosaic art. The new Adult Education Board met for the first time and approved the Annual Report 2009. Copies of the Annual Report are available from the Adult Education Centres in Athlone (090 64 74080) and Mullingar (044 93 42111) or on our website www. westmeathvec.ie. The festival closed on Friday 26th February with the FETAC Level 1 Award Ceremony. 15 participants from South Westmeath Adult Learning Programmes 27
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Reports from around the Country
Explore of Noise Multimedia has moved the database from a vision into a reality! It was launched in the Ballymun Civic Centre, on February 25th 2010, as part of the AONTAS Adult Learners’ Festival and alongside our very own Book Exchange. Members of the Network were there to show people how easy it is to use the database! If you are a training provider in Ballymun or Whitehall and you wish to become a member of this database or you would like to become a member of the Ballymun Trainers Network, please contact Elizabeth Tierney by mailing elizabeth@ballymun.org or telephone 01-8423612.
A wonderful start to our jam packed programme, writes Sine Lynch Information is everything!
received full FETAC Level 1 Awards. They were the first in the county to receive such an award. FETAC was represented by Donal Griffin who provided an inspiring speech. The awards were presented to the learners by a special guest – Pascal Brennan. It was a wonderful day and captured what the festival was all about. It was a great way to close the festival. We launched our cinema advertisement during the festival in cinemas in Athlone & Mullingar. You can find it on Facebook, along with photos from the various events which took place.
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Dublin Book exchanges and a new database in Ballymun, writes Elizabeth Tierney
The Ballymun Trainers Network was established in 2008 as a result of research carried out by the Ballymun Partnership, and in an effort to support lifelong learning in Ballymun. The main aims of this network are to:
• Enhance communication between its members • Enhance communication between training providers and the community in Ballymun, Whitehall and surrounding areas.
• Inform potential learners of training opportunities available in Ballymun and Whitehall
In late 2008, a sub-group of the Ballymun Trainers Network began to research setting up a database of trainers from the local area. This was to enable learners and training providers to work together more effectively. It would be used to promote training courses. The membership of the network currently includes a variety of 23 local training providers in Ballymun and surrounding areas.
• Provide peer support in training related matters to its members
This year, the Network along with the expertise of Ian Smith
• Promote lifelong learning in Ballymun and Whitehall
On Friday 26th Feb RADE invited family, friends and community groups to RADE to see first hand the group’s work in progress. The event included 8 duologue drama pieces from varying American playwrights. The pieces allowed the groups to put their own slant on the American dialogue and place the drama pieces in an Irish setting. American actress & facilitator Bren McElroy directed the drama duologues. Bren’s focus for the pieces was to develop the participants stage craft in preparation for RADE’s upcoming film and theatrical productions. For the majority of participants this was their first time performing to an audience. A small cinema room was also set up for the day which allowed 15/20 people view last year’s short film “TODAY”. The event was a fan-
Reports from around the Country tastic success with over 100 guests squeezing into RADE’s workshop. The reaction from the audience was very positive with many hopeful participants enquiring about joining the programme. The day was a wonderful start to our jam packed programme for the year.”
Demystifying Twitter at the Carmichael Centre, writes Caroline Egan
In the community and voluntary sector, there is a diverse range of attitudes to the use of social media in organisations; from those that mistrust it to those that can clearly see its relationship building benefits. When we decided to run a special free event for AONTAS Adult Learners Festival, we decided to try and minimise some of the fear that people can have around social media applications. As Twitter is a straightforward practical social media tool to use, we opted to run a 45 minute introductory workshop which would give participants a chance to use Twitter and give them an opportunity to see its potential in the context of their own organisations work. This workshop was then repeated throughout the day on February 25th. We were truly delighted with the response! All workshops were booked out a month in advance and the feedback from participants was excellent on the day. Participants had different motivations for getting involved. For some learning about Twitter was a way to help keep up-to-date with what their children were interested in,
Demystifying Twitter at the Carmichael Centre
for others they wanted to learn a new IT skill that could benefit them in their work. All felt that they had learned something new and could see themselves continuing to use Twitter in the future! This is Carmichael Centre’s first participation in the festival as an event organiser. It’s been a very positive experience and we look forward to participating in the festival in 2011!
Surfing the Net at Terenure Library, writes Lorraine Payne at Terenure Enterprise Centre
I gave a demo in the Terenure Library on Templeogue Road in Terenure with the assistance of some members of the Active Senior I.T. Society (ASITS) on Thursday 25th. The event was advertised in two church newsletters St Josephs and St Pius x and also in the Templeogue active seniors newsletter. The event was well attended and showed how easy is was to get an email address and search for information on the internet. Lorraine 29
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All students involved in both tours thoroughly enjoyed the outings and found the whole experience very beneficial for their learning journeys. used a digital camera and demonstrated how to take and upload a photo. Unfortunately it wasn’t possible to cover social networking sites or use Skype. Despite these restrictions everyone enjoyed the event and several have signed up for courses here which is great.
Reports from around the Country Abbeyleix Return to Education group, Co. Laois VEC visited the library and viewed the art exhibition entitled ‘The Spring Collection’ by artist Tom Joyce. The group were also given a tour of the library and anyone who wished to join the library signed up. After the visit to the library the group had light refreshments in Mrs Quinn’s Tea Rooms, a renowned café famous for its fine tea and cakes. During the Adult Learners’ Festival English for Speakers of Other Languages students from from the Adult Learning Centre Co. Laois VEC were also given a tour of Portlaoise library. Students were given information on the resources and facilities available to them in their local library. Librarians were also on hand to assist students wishing to join the library on the day. All students involved in both tours thoroughly enjoyed the outings and found the whole experience very beneficial for their individual learning journeys.
Challenging and pushing boundaries in Laois, writes Helen Kavanagh Learners at Terenure library
Library is a hub for learning in Laois, writes Sandra Doyle
The transformation of the former market house in Abbeyleix now provides the town with a beautiful new library and art gallery. It was awarded Best Conservation/Restoration Project 2009 under the Public Choice Award section in the Irish Architecture Awards. To celebrate the Adult Learners' Festival Week the
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A large crowd gathered for a Coffee Morning in Abbeyleix Further Education Centre to celebrate the launch this month of two new Level 6 courses in the centre. The Centre was thinking about adding new courses to their portfolio and the time was right last September when circumstances allowed for the introduction of FETAC Level 6 Art & Business and FETAC Level 6 Administration. The Centre applied to the Department of Education and Science for approval for two
FETAC Level 6 courses and approval was granted in May 2009. Ann Devlin attended the event from FETAC. She congratulated staff and students on the delivery of the two new courses and added that “Adult education is a bright light that gives hope”. Joe Cunningham, AEO Co. Laois VEC, congratulated the staff and students involved and said he was very proud to be associated with Adult Education and all the work carried out in Abbeyleix Further Education Centre and throughout Co. Laois VEC. He said that the approval of the courses in Abbeyleix is an affirmation of all the hard work in the Centre. Course co-ordinators from both level 6 courses described the wide variety of material covered and the success so far for the learners. Joan Martin, course co-ordinator for level 6 Administration and Jackie Cater course co-ordinator for Level 6 Art and Business both told the audience of the hard work and dedication of tutors in the Centre to ensure the Level 6 courses were a success. Two learners from each of the courses were invited on the morning to talk about the reasons why they enrolled, their experiences to date on the courses and their plans for the future. The students spoke honestly about the difficulties they faced along the way but applauded the staff of the Centre, stating that throughout the year they have “pushed boundaries” leaving students “challenged and inspired”. The morning was a great success and allowed the staff and
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It’s been a very positive experience and we look forward to participating in the festival in 2011! learners to celebrate at local level the Adult Learners’ Festival . It also gave individuals who are interested in enrolling in Abbeyleix Further Education Centre in September 2010 an opportunity to visit the Centre and talk to course tutors.
Connaught Learning Tree bears fruits at Croí na Gaillimhe Resource Centre, St Vincent de Paul, writes Loretta Needham
Croi na Gaillimhe Resource Centre is a place where friendships are born and connections are made. Connection is the oil that eases away the loneliness. A learning tree which symbolises the highs and lows of adult learning was unveiled on Wednesday February 24th by Lord Mayor of Galway, Declan McDonnell. Adult learners at Croí na Gaillimhe Resource
Reports from around the Country Centre, Society of St Vincent de Paul, decorated the tree with reflections and thoughts on their experience of learning at the centre. Some of the reflections on the tree include a comment from a computer learner “I am very grateful to have a chance in life to learn computers and I am on my second art class here. You are all very helpful and always give everyone a nice warm welcome”. From a participant of : movement and relaxation class “Attending the centre is an amazing experience of peace and tranquility and gives a great sense of well being and connectedness”. “It is good to be active” said an older person who takes a line dancing class. The Friday Writers Group who regularly uses the centre contends that “It is a weekly treat, a lovely setting with the water surrounding the building which inspires our creativity”. The tree was displayed at the centre all through the week of the Festival. The Centre also held a free morning of computer training for the older members of the community. Speaking at the launch,The Mayor of the City of Galway, Councillor Declan McDonnell said “In the current climate it's even more important that we continue to showcase the value of the organisations like Croi na Gaillimhe Resource Centre, Society of St Vincent de Paul in responding to the needs of individuals, communities, society and the economy.”
Everyone enjoyed the event and several have signed up for courses here which is great.
Providing Information at Co. Mayo VEC, writes Mary Mc Donnell, Adult Guidance Information Officer
The Adult Guidance Service of Co. Mayo VEC hosted an Information Stand in the foyer of the Supervalu / Penneys Shopping Centre in Castlebar all through Friday 26th February. Barbara Ronayne, Adult Guidance Counsellor and I were kindly assisted by Nora O’Malley, Information Officer / Jobs Facilitator from the Dept of Social & Family Affairs. There was a steady stream of people visiting the centre and as we were just inside the door, we couldn’t be missed. We gave out a lot of information and assisted people with their enquiries. It was a great help to have the assistance of Nora as she was able to assist those who were unemployed with information about the Back to Education Allowance, training options and queries around unemployment benefits. A number of unemployed and recently redundant people made appointments with the Adult Guidance Counsellor for further assistance with education and training options. We felt it was a very productive day and an excellent opportunity to promote adult learning and we got very good verbal feedback from those that we spoke to.
Learners at the LIT Learning Tree 31
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Reports from around the Country
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Reports from around the Country
VTOS Conference affirms equality agenda This year VTOS celebrates twenty one years of adult learning. The National Association of VTOS Co-ordinators scheduled a conference to coincide with the Adult Learners’ Festival. In this article Jim McNamara, former chairperson, describes what happened at the event. VTOS celebrated its twenty first year last month with a conference including workshops, keynote speakers, and a panel of founders and pioneers of the programme in 1989. Themes ranging from coping with the changing needs of adults, to empowering learners with the knowledge and tools to analyse society, to exploring the value of I.T. in the learning centre were explored in workshops led and facilitated by VTOS Coordinators with experience and interest in particular fields. The keynote speaker for the conference was Mr Niall Crowley, Equality Consultant and Former Chief Executive of the Equality Authority. Mr Crowley passionately detailed the benefits that would accrue from a society which champions equality. The converse he said was also true, with more unequal societies nearly always scoring lower on a host of quality of life measures.
these. Education, he said could play a valuable role in either further reinforcing or countering existing inequality. He also challenged all who run education centres to audit their own workplaces and practices in this regard. There was, he said everything to be gained from meaningfully respecting diversity and just “goodwill” was no longer sufficient. Centres of adult learning, he said could be leaders in affirming equality, but needed to examine/audit access, outcomes, equality competence, policy, planning, training and evaluation of their performance to be effective state funded organisations serving all the people.
It was, he said, no accident that the gap in income and opportunity had widened in recent years. The decisions which led to this were political and flowed from a deliberate choice not to prioritise the disadvantaged. He explained how divisions in society were reinforced by the unequal distribution of wealth; with over forty percent of the wealth controlled by some five percent of the people; by select, private schools and by powerful social and economic groups. The recent decisions to abolish the Combat Poverty Agency and to cut social welfare payments by five per cent would, he said, further increase inequality.
Goodwill not enough
Acknowledging the work of VTOS and other adult education initiatives over the years, Mr Crowley believes we need more quality interventions like
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The conference celebrated twenty one years of VTOS
Mary O’Rourke was Minister for Education when VTOS was first introduced
Thinking outside the box
In the panel discussions which followed, founders and early pioneers of VTOS outlined the early years in getting the programme up and running at a time of economic crisis. Former education Minister Mary O’ Rourke sketched the political background to setting up the programme and the struggle to get official acceptance that the unemployed needed education as well as training. Acknowledging the need for a new and similar initiative today she appealed for everyone to think outside the box and make a special effort to reach a whole generation who are now experiencing unemployment and a new kind of poverty. Mr Paddy Bennis former Principal Officer at the Department of Education, a pioneer of VTOS, described the discussions that brought the programme to fruition. Noting the wealth of experience that had been built up at all levels over the past twenty years; VTOS, he said, was one of the success stories of education in Ireland. Helen Keogh National Co-ordinator said the twenty one years of VTOS had brought huge benefits and hope to the lives of tens of thousands of people, otherwise excluded from formal education. She has witnessed the diversity, quality and expertise of the programme being replicated in a number of EU countries.
More investment needed
Marian Duffy former VTOS Co-ordinator and current President of AONTAS, described the value of intergenerational learning in breaking the cycle of poverty. VTOS centres, she said, have major potential for family and community support especially at a time of economic crisis. Describing her early experiences with adult learners, and later with their children, she noted the multiplier effect of education, as well as the social and cultural uplift that came from being in a programme that is full-time, relevant, inclusive and quality driven. She sees a need for ongoing investment in adult and further education. The logic of starting the VTOS programme some twenty one years ago was still indisputable today. Co-ordinators should not have to choose between the long-term unemployed and the new employed, we need places for both, we need more places, more than ever now, with even deeper economic crisis. Reports from each workshop and the conference as a whole are available on the National Association of VTOS Co-ordinators website www.navc.ie
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The Adult Education Clinic In April 2010 Jennifer Gunning, Research and Information Officer with AONTAS passed away suddenly. She is missed by family, friends, work colleagues and many in the adult learning sector. Here, her colleagues at AONTAS remember her. “In a sky full of stars there are always some that shine a little brighter. Such a special person will always be remembered.”
g a shar p intellect Jenny had many attr ibutes includin remember most will I g and a generous spir it but the thin e one mor noffic the is how funny she was. Arriving in y asked me what I ing after seei ng ‘Casino Roya le’ Jenn “that Dan iel Craig is thought of the film . “Well” said I, certainly a bit of all right!”
tiful eyes”. “It wasn’t “Yes”, said Jenny, “hasn’t he got beau y’s own eyes and his eyes I was looking at”, I replied. Jenn far for the inspiration mouth fell open. I didn’t have to look TAS Christmas party. behind my Kriskindle gift at the AON re for ever y month! A Daniel calendar with a different pictu that laugh that filled The thing I remember about Jenny is see the funny side of up the room and the way she could something. I will miss her terribly.
Berni 5 years ago, I knew Within minutes of Jenny’s interview, loved to engage with she was the person we needed. Jenny ded in what was inclu people and ensure that ever yone was from her day to pop going on. She would always take time ?” That five minutes in and say “Do you have 5 minutes ted about the weekgrew to about an hour where we chat s, our love of dogs plan end, family, movies, her wedding Last year Jenny dealt and anything else that cropped up. the people that Jenny with 7,000 individual calls, these are . She is a huge loss helped to change and improve their lives ing their way in find in to all those people who need help is a huge loss to me. the education world, but most of all she
Jacinta and friendly – you Jen, you were such a star, so warm Things will never h. always had time for a chat and a laug to believe you won’t be the same without you. It’s still hard hear ts and we think be there ever yday. You’re still in our smile and remember about you all the time. We will try to you and miss you so the laughs we had over the years. Love much already.
Dympna
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Jenny brought so much of her personality to her job and was so helpful and patient with everyone who contacted her for information. She was popular not only because of her professionalism, but also for her great sense of fun, her quick wit and her ability to engage with everyone – from people who contacted the Information Referra l Service to academ ics and politicians. She loved Christmas and was the first one to break out the carols (sometimes as early as July!!). I miss her not only as a work colleague but as a good friend.
The closing event of the Adult Learners’ Festival traditionally has a policy focus and aims to capture some of the issues and thoughts that come up during the week, and direct them to decision makers and policy makers. Niamh Farren writes about the event which took place at the Davenport Hotel.
This article is accompanied by more focused pieces which look in closer detail at two key issues that are halting the development of the sector in fulfilling its potential to support people through the recession. One of these issues is the public sector recruitment embargo, the second being the decision in Budget 2010 to no longer allow those qualifying for BTEA to apply for support through the Maintenance Grant.
Niamh Farren
There doesn’t seem to be enough words to express how loved Jen is and how missed she will be both as a colleague and a friend so I’ll try to convey it with memories... gold shoes and cocktails in Capitol, wedding notes on napkins, mustard socks, Christmas in September, cappuccino sachets, infectious enthusiasm for information statistics, fabulous eye makeup, fluffy pink gloves and diamond rings, excitement over parliamentary questions, bit of bling, late night texts about cabinet reshuff les, unparalleled generosity, prosecco and all things Italian ! Mostly, I just miss my friend but thinking back on all our memories I can’t help smiling.
Ciara
Words never failed Jen, but they fail me now. How to describe the impact of Jen’s huge, warm personality on your work and world cannot be put into words. An immense void now exists where limitless suppor t, humour, enthusiasm and warmth once was. Working for 5 years together with so many memories which we can never reminisce on again is just one painful part of this profound tragedy that has affected so many. Jen sparkled kindness and joy onto our lives and will always be remembered as a huge light of life, love and happiness in AONTAS.
Niamh O’Reilly
L-R: AONTAS Director Berni Brady with Minister for Lifelong Learning Sean Haughey and Green Party Spokesperson Paul Gogarty
The TDs constituency clinic lies at the heart of the Irish political system. Frank Cluskey, former leader of the Labour party, was once heard to say that at clinics a T.D. can expect to deal with a variety of queries, one third of which were impossible, one third illegal and the final third raised as a result of loneliness. Although political commentators have questioned the amount of time that a TD spends in their clinic fielding complaints about anything from potholes to lampposts, constituency clinics play a key democratic function, and can help elected representatives
to keep in touch with issues in their communities. AONTAS this year decided to take the concept of a clinic and re-create it specifically to focus on adult education.
A listening exercise
In the spirit of participation and with the objective of ensuring that learners and providers voices were heard, the closing event at the Davenport was part focus group, part lobby, even part speed dating. Minister for Lifelong Learning, Sean Haughey, as well as spokespersons from Fine Gael, the Green Party and the Labour party, agreed
to the format, which would entail them spending time listening to the particular issues experienced by both learners and providers, and concluding with a short response. Four tables – two tables of providers, and two tables of learners, met in advance of the event to prioritise the particular messages that they would put across. As unemployment reaches almost 13%, many adults experiencing unemployment and redundancy are turning to further education and training. For providers, this means dealing with an increased level of demand, a greater diversity of 35
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Staff managing the adult education service must be considered frontline staff and should be exempt from the moratorium on recruitment.
A group of providers communicate their concerns to the Minister
learning needs, while the recruitment embargo means less capacity. For learners, it means competing for places, dealing with oversized classes, and with less financial supports than could be relied on in previous years.
• University courses based in the UK – a 50% increase in the number of Irish applicants – with UK authorities citing an increase in the number of mature student applications, rising by 63% of those over 25.
The statistics
• VTOS places – 50% increase in demand, according to data from the National Association of VTOS Co-ordinators.
The following information shows the increase in demand for adult education: • The AONTAS Referral Service – the number of queries has doubled from the number handled in 2007- to a total of 6,038 in 2009. • PLC Courses – 37,000 applicants for 13,000 places in October 2009. • The number of applications through the CAO has increased– up by 10% on last year, and including an increase of mature student applications. • IOT (Institute of Technology) applications – increased by 19.5% in 2009 from 2008.
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• BTEA (the Back to Education Allowance) applications – 18,700 applications approved in October 2009, up on total figures from the previous year of 11, 646 applications.
The participants
One of the learners attending was John Mc Cabe, who we met through Meath VEC. John is in his late twenties and is a father of three children. He worked in the horticulture industry for years, becoming unemployed in February 2009 when the company he was work-
ing for went bust. Finding himself unemployed for the first time, and without a proper qualification, John decided that he needed a third level qualification. Because he had been out of formal education for some time, John decided to sign up for a PLC course. 'I had hoped to go to NUI Maynooth next year but without the student grant I don't think I can afford it' he said. 'I get the Back to Education Allowance but this is not enough to make ends meet. The cost of books and travel alone would be too much per week for me to take out of the BTEA.' Changes in the Budget will mean that John could lose up to b6,355 towards his education.
‘I had hoped to go to NUI Maynooth next year but without the student grant I don’t think I can afford it.’
Cllr Aodhan O’Riordain responds on behalf of the Labour Party
Education providers, including Adult Education Officers employed within VECs around the country, also outlined the particular challenges they are experiencing as the demand for education and training continues to increase. The recruitment embargo is affecting the delivery of many public services, but the job descriptions of AEOs means that they are particularly vulnerable to the embargo. Berni Brady explained 'AEOs do not only perform an administrative role – they are crucial in the development of the service, they manage and coordinate volunteers as well as paid staff, and are ultimately responsible for the recruitment, retention and support of learners. In Co. Mayo, we now have a situation where both AEOs have retired in the past year, meaning that there is no-one co-ordinating the ser-
vice at a time when it is needed most. Staff managing the adult education service must be considered frontline staff and should be exempt from the moratorium on recruitment.'
The responses
'There needs to be greater synergy between the departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Education and Science and the Department of Social and Family Affairs,' said AONTAS Director Berni Brady, 'if we are to seriously address the unemployment crisis and make best use of limited resources. The government now has the opportunity to ensure that the connections between departments are strengthened in order to respond to the new challenges that have emerged over the past year and a half.'
Reacting to what he heard, the Minister said 'The current structure is crying out for reform. There is an absolute need for greater connections between education and social welfare benefits.' Meanwhile Paul Gogarty, Education Spokesperson with the Green Party, suggested that the new Activation fund could be channelled into the cuts in education. Brian Hayes, Fine Gael TD and Spokesperson on Education, called on the Minister to ensure that the role of adult and community education would be more formally recognised and taken seriously within the Department of Education. The recent government reshuffle presented opportunities to seriously address the disconnects between departments, so that people can be fasttracked into training and education options that meet their needs, and that promise real progression routes to employment and further education. It is too early yet to call the impact of the changes made. The clinic concept can also provide a valuable space for collective discussion and dialogue on these important issues. AONTAS will continue to liaise with the Minister and party spokespeople on the issues raised – keep an eye on our website for updates. 37
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From the Provider Perspective Consultation with the statutory sector conducted by AONTAS revealed the recruitment embargo was putting the services under increasing pressure. Findings from our regional meetings late last year were affirmed by providers attending the clinic. retired in 2009 meaning that there is now no AEO in place for the entire county. The Adult Education Services in Carlow VEC revealed recently that for every place there is now three applicants. Without additional staff, the service cannot meet the needs of those seeking to access the services. Ger Canning from Co. Cork VEC makes her point to the Minister for Lifelong Learning.
In March 2009, the Department of Finance introduced a recruitment embargo in the public sector which has had a real impact on the delivery of all public services. The impact of the recruitment embargo is being particularly felt by the adult education services – as they struggle to meet the increasing demand for their services. The embargo was accompanied by an Incentivised Scheme of Early Retirement, as well as a Special Civil Service Incentive Career Break. The last number of months has seen the exit of a number of AEOs in the wake of that scheme, and the service has been substantially weakened as a result. The embargo applies to all staff within the service apart from tutors who are classified as frontline and therefore exempt. According to Berni Brady, this distinction goes to the heart of the issue. ‘The classification of frontline staff in the education sector as those who deliver classes does not take account of the nature of the adult education service where staff such as Adult Education Officers or Guidance personnel or Adult Literacy Organisers play a key role in the delivery of the service. AEOs do not only perform an administrative role – they are crucial in the development of the service, they manage and co-ordinate volunteers as well as paid staff, and are ultimately responsible for the recruitment, retention and support of learners’, she says. So what is the impact of the moratorium on the ground? AONTAS asked providers working in both urban and rural settings to explain.
The reality for providers
• The loss in staff has a detrimental effect on service provision as there is less capacity at a time when it is most needed. In Co. Mayo, for example, both AEOs 38
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‘Giving with one hand while taking away with the other’
As was predicted, Budget 2010 introduced a number of cost saving measures designed to reduce public expenditure. While not fully embracing the recommendations of the McCarthy report, the Budget did introduce a number of measures which referenced the Snip proposals – one of which is now having a profound impact on those experiencing the recent sting of unemployment.
• The inability to replace staff on maternity leave, or those on sick leave, is also placing undue strain on local services. Many of the staff employed within the service are women, so maternity leave makes a substantial impact. • There are real concerns amongst providers about the ability to deliver a quality service given the demand on the service and current capacity. This means that staff have less time to deal with queries – placing key supports such as Adult Guidance under pressure to deal with more queries.
The reality for learners
• Less staff employed in the service ultimately mean fewer learning options for people in the area. • Waiting lists are common across the services, but also for ancillary supports such as Guidance which are crucial in assisting people to access appropriate education and training as quickly as possible. • Access to the most up to date accurate information about adult learning is especially important as qualifying criteria change and new education and training measures are introduced.
Possible actions
While we recognise that the public finance situation makes it difficult to provide for additional staff, the arbitrary nature of implementing the embargo leaves some local services with an impossible challenge. Staff managing the adult education service must be considered frontline staff and should be exempt from the moratorium on recruitment. This should apply to the following staff members – AEOs, CEFs, ALOs, Guidance Councillors, Information Officers, and BTEI and VTOS coordinators. This would enable VECs to continue to provide the quality service required in the current climate.
Learners who stand to miss out on the Maintenance grant communicate their concerns to Fine Gael spokesperson on Education Brian Hayes
A crucial financial support available to adults wishing to return to education is the ‘Back to Education Allowance’ – which essentially allows an adult to retain their social welfare payment and benefits whilst they return to education. Last year, adults who qualified for BTEA could also qualify for additional financial support through the Student Maintenance Grant, and the ‘Top Up’ grant. The number of people accessing the scheme speaks volumes – in the 2007/2008 academic year, there were 8,883 participants in the Back to Education
allowance scheme and this rose to 11,646 in 2008/2009. At the end of December 2009, there were 20,808 participants. Although the increase can in part be attributed to changes in the Supplementary Budget 2009, which cut the qualifying time for the scheme, the demand is also in line with rising unemployment as people rethink their options. These figures provide hard evidence that BTEA constitutes a cornerstone of any current upskilling or retraining strategy. Measures introduced in Budget 2010 effectively undo all of that good
work – by preventing those who applied for a third level education place earlier this year, and who are eligible for BTEA from applying for a Maintenance Grant. Although the Department is quick to point out that those already ‘in the system’ will retain the grant, this change which slipped in virtually unnoticed will hit those who recently joined the dole queues the hardest. This is because the change in the Budget targets participants on ‘new courses’. So moving from second level to third level BTEA constitutes a new course, as does the transition from an access 39
Explore course to a third level place, or applying for a third level course for the first time. While media commentators and third level institutions were wringing their hands about how existing capacity could be stretched to provide more places for those joining the mature student ranks, a substantial, and voiceless cohort was realising that the Smart Economy was coming with terms and conditions attached.
Why adult learning is different
Returning to education as an adult is substantially different to the experience of those entering the system at school leaving age. As Maynooth academic Tom Collins has pointed out, the nature of returning to education is unique in that it is largely voluntary. Adults returning to education may be seeking closure on a negative experience in the formal system – they may also be at a crucial stage in their own lives of moving into an alternative career or employment which requires a qualification that they do not have. In the meantime, the day to day business of mortgage payments, bills, and juggling family and caring responsibilities must continue – this is why adults unequivocally deserve to receive some financial support in their efforts to better themselves and their employment prospects through education, without the grant.
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Policy Adults already face difficulties not experienced by their full time counterparts. Parity of esteem for adult learners has always been an issue for AONTAS, explains Director Berni Brady. ‘Why is it that if you want to do a degree on a part time basis, and hold onto your job, you will have to pay full fees, while if you go back on a full time basis, your fees will be covered? This just doesn’t make economic sense, and is out of sync with the current times.’ It’s not only the challenges of juggling family and work – even getting to university can be difficult for some adults. ‘ I think the main thing that would make me have to put off taking up a place on a college course is the cost of the travel,’ says Brendan, from Co. Meath who lost his job in 2008 and who this year applied for a third level education place at NUI Maynooth. ‘Getting to and from university will cost me about b60 per week – which will have to come out of my BTEA payment. Really if they could at least offer the Mature Student or Jobseekers returning to learning some sort of a travel pass it would go a long way to helping people like me. ‘ The unfortunate fallout of this particular policy decision has been highlighted by a group of mature students currently taking an Access course in Galway. Although their course is helping them to prepare for third level, the students recently discovered that they won’t be in a position to apply for the Maintenance grant. Having laid
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There is a logical rationale for investment in education as it yields longterm benefits. the groundwork, many of these students will not be able to take their education to the next stage. Michelle, an adult learner from the Access Programme at NUI Galway recently illustrated this point. Speaking at a meeting organised by USI to highlight this issue, she explained in frank terms how, as mother of two children with special needs, she simply wouldn’t be able to afford to pursue a third level education. The Back to Education Allowance has been hugely successful since its introduction in 1989. It allows for free choice, and makes a third level education a realistic option for many of those who would never have contemplated a third level education. It is a progressive and respectful benefit payment, which recognises the needs and ambitions of individual learners. BTEA also prevents a cycle of long term unemployment emerging. So what are the solutions, given the current fiscal pressures on the public purse, rising unemployment and increasing number of BTEA applications? The expenditure on the back to education allowance scheme in 2007 was b64.142million and this rose to b77.136million in 2008. The provisional outturn for 2009 is b107.315
Learners with Cllr Aodhan O Riordain from the Labour Party
million. There is of course, a logical rationale for investment in education, as it yields longterm benefits. Educating adults can leave a powerful legacy, as they are more likely to support and encourage their own children through the formal education system, resulting in savings on everything from healthcare to prison costs. This particular argument is a difficult one to make given the current focus on cuts in public expenditure, and the impact of short term electoral cycles on public policy. The government recently announced a b20 million activation fund, with the aim of supporting 3,500 unemployed people through training and upskilling. At the Adult Education Clinic, AONTAS called on the government to ringfence part of this fund in order to provide financial assistance to those on BTEA. At that event, Paul Gogarty, Green
party spokesperson on Education, also expressed his willingness to explore other ways of providing this assistance – through another department if necessary.
What can you do?
Adult learners unfortunately don’t always have as strong a voice as interests in the formal education sector. They are a largely invisible cohort, and in an era of frantic news agendas, and competition for decreased public resources it is difficult to put the unfairness of this situation into the public domain, as well as Dáil Eireann. AONTAS will continue to liaise with the party spokespeople on this issue – in the meantime, if you or someone you know is affected by this change, there are a number of simple steps that you can take. 1. Visit your local TDs clinic, with your concern. Make sure to visit EVERY clinic in your constituency.
2. Write to your TD, AONTAS will help you write a letter. 3. Join the Grants for Mature Students Facebook group, and sign their petition. 4. Write a letter to your local newspaper, AONTAS will help. 5. Contact your local adult learning centre, and let them know about your situation. In May of last year, Mary Hanafin, Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs, issued the following statement. ‘Young people who may have opted out of the formal education and training opportunities when the draw of high wages during the boom years was irresistible, are now more likely to remain unemployed if they are not actively upskilling and gaining new expertise.’ Let’s hope she’s not to be proven right. 41
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Reflections
It is like walking on the moon each Saturday. I enjoy this experience so much.
Ann Devlin, FETAC Representative on the STAR Awards Judging Panel.
As an elected representative, I recognise the important role of education in contributing to more politically aware, engaged communities. This is also the European Year of Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion, and education has a key role to play in meeting that particular challenge. It is wonderful to see the achievements and work of these providers and learners documented through the medium of television for the first time.
Returning to education after many years brought me back to life. Enlightenment, confidence, fun, friends and knocked 20 years off me.
All FETAC awards can be achieved at the time and pace that suit learners.
I love availing of new opportunities that learning brings.
Minister for Lifelong Learning, Sean Haughey TD speaking at the STAR Awards Ceremony
Adult learning has given me a new found confidence in myself to achieve all my goals in life. This in turn will help me to encourage my children to pursue further education.
This Arts Disability project endeavors to
the word to others by example. It is a shining light, which is moving onwards to burn brighter. The Luisne Art Project – Winner of the Connaught Local & Regional STAR Award 2010
LIT Learner
Andrina Wafer, FETAC
There is no doubt that education opens up new opportunities. It gives you a sense of belonging and shapes your future.
LIT Learner
allow that right to its participants and to spread
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[Better Together] is a very appropriate theme and one which very much supports and compliments my own view as Minister for Lifelong Learning – that working in partnership generates infinitely better outcomes. By working together, as administrators, providers and indeed, as participants, there is no limit to what we can achieve.
LIT Learner
Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr. Emer Costello speaking at the launch of ‘Beyond the Classroom
Learner from Active Retirement Ireland Train the Trainers (IT Skills)
Reflections
The standard of [STAR Award] nominations was extremely high this year. It is real testament to the quality of this project that those involved have been singled out by the judging panel for their achievements.
Le Croi Og (Young at Heart) Intergenerational Learning Project Learner
The tutor had learned his IT skills as an adult learner too – this helped greatly in how he related to us.
Explore
When AONTAS launched its first Adult Learners’ Festival in 2007 we could not have anticipated how important it would become as a means of promoting the wonderful work carried out in the adult and community education sector in Ireland. Now in its fourth year, the Festival has become a signature event in the adult and community education calendar.
LIT Learner
Berni Brady, AONTAS Director
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Explore
Back Page?
AONTAS
The National Adult Learning Organisation 2nd Floor, 83 – 87 Main Street, Ranelagh, Dublin 6 Tel: 01 406 8220/1 Fax: 01 406 8227 Email: mail@aontas.com Website: www.aontas.com
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