Community Education Network
The Community Education Network is a political platform for community education groups within the AONTAS membership and it will serve as a space for promoting community education and for shaping policy. This work serves under the organizational development section of the AONTAS Strategic Plan. The need for such a platform came to our attention during the strategic plan consultation process; community groups voiced their concern regarding the need for a representative body for community education and to be a stronger voice for community education, and a more direct way to be a part of the policy work of AONTAS. As such the AONTAS staff team and very importantly a steering group, composed of our members from a community education background, guide the work and policy actions of this community education network. Meetings of the Network take place 3 times a year so to ensure the momentum of the work.
Launch of Community Education Television Programmes!
The launch of 'Beyond the Classroom' took place on Wednesday 24th February as part of the AONTAS Adult Learners' Festival, Learning Communities Day. The programmes will be shown on DCTV Chorus NTL Channel 802 every Wednesday at 7pm throughout the month of March. The schedule for the programmes' transmission is available for download. As well as these initial broadcasts each weeks material will be repeated the following day at 12.30pm and then the following Sunday at 12.30pm. These programmes will provide pracitioners with a tool for professional development of staff, to encourage prospective learners to get involved in community education and to raise the profile of community education to the wider public. Stay tuned to the DCTV website for up to date information.
A total of 134 organisations from 19 counties have registered to be part of the Community Education Network because they are passionate about community education and its future development, the map illustrates the counties involved. If you are interested in joining the Community Education Network please click on this link for more information.
Who can join the Community Education Network?
Any local, self-managed, independent community education organisation that is committed to raising the profile of, and lobbying for, a community education sector that is committed to social change.
Mission Statement
To achieve a greater public understanding of the value of community education and have it recognised as a distinctly funded sector of the Irish Education system.
For more information on the Community Education Network or to join please contact Niamh O'Reilly.
