Thursday, 17 May, 2012

Community Education Network

Do you want to join the Irish Community Education Network?CEN meeting 13 019

The Community Education Network comprises over 130 community education organisations which work collectively to gain recognition for community education, raise its profile and lobby to ensure it is adequately resourced. It was established in 2007 and has three national meetings per year. It is unique in that it is the only national network that is dedicated to independent voluntary community education groups who are committed to social change.

For a full history of the community education network download this paper.

Membership of the Irish Community Education Network is free for AONTAS members! Click here to join online.

Raise the Voice of Community Education!

The Community Education Network has many resources that you can use for your lobbying activites. Just click on the link and access the resource. Please download the position paper and the manifesto and save it to your computer.

  1. Position paper (use to inform yourself)
  2. Manifesto (print out; give to learners, politicians etc.): Manifesto 1, Manifesto 2, Manifesto 3
  3. Television programmes 'Beyond the Classroom' (upload to your website or use at your meeting with politicians)
  4. CEN History Paper (Print out, inform yourself and others)
  5. Adult Learners' Festival Events: Raise your Voice for Adult Learning (Host a lobbying event in your centre, invite politicians and given them the manifesto)
  6. Small scale research on funding for community education (used as basis for position paper)

Download your resource pack here (which includes what you can say to politicians and an email you can send them)

Irish Community Education Network

The Irish Community Education Network was established in 2007 and has given a voice to, and improved the visibility of independent community education provision. The Network has grown from strength to strength over the past 3 years. The next phase of its work is to use the position paper it developed, An Effective Funding Mechanism for Community Education, as a basis for advocacy work. The Network also strives to become more representative of community education across Ireland.DSC03306-1

Community Education Network News

We are asking all existing and prospective members of the Community Education Network to formally become members bycompleting this form online

Aim of the network

AONTAS Community Education Network
Community of Practice: demonstrating the value and outcomes of community education
Community of Educators: continuous professional development for community education practitioners
Community of Reflection: facilitating discussion on community education in a changing context - how to maintain its role and ethos
Community of Advocacy: identifying and lobbying on specific issues relating to community education
Community of Support: peer support, exchange and shared learning with other community education groups e.g. regarding FETAC

Leaflet on the definition of community education.

Who can join the Community Education Network?CEN meeting 13 006

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. Click here to join now by completing our online Membership Form!