Saturday, 04 February, 2012

AONTAS responds to SOLAS consultation process

In December 2011 the Department of Education and Skills announced a timeframe and framework for a consultation process about SOLAS - the new further education and training authority. Details are available on the Departments website. Read the consultation paper and the invitation to stakeholders.

The consultation process identifies four key policy areas for which views are sought. The responses to the consultation process will inform the development of an action plan on SOLAS. An information session including the key findings will be held in February.

AONTAS has responded in detail to the questions asked in the consultation process. On the basis of feedback from our members we made a strong case for the value of community education, and support for strong engagement with adult learners as the new service develops. Read our submission to SOLAS.

AONTAS is also organising an event as part of our Adult Learners' Festival which will focus on SOLAS from the perspective of adult learners. More details will be available in the coming weeks.

Budget 2012 - what does it hold for adult learners?

Key changes affecting adult learners and the adult education sector include:

  • €20 million to be provided under the National Training Fund for a new Labour Market Activation Fund. This fund which will be specifally targeted at people who are long term unemployed will deliver over 6,500 places in 2012.
  • €10 million to be allocated to the Springboard initiative to increase the part time hgiher education opportunities for unemployed people.
  • No maintenance grants for new postgraduate entrants from the academic year 2012/13.
  • A reduction of 3% to the rates of student maintenance grants.
  • Capitation grants paid for further education programmes (including adult literacy and community education) will be reduced by 2% in each 2012 and 2013 with a further reduction of 1% in each 2014 and 2015.
  • A reduction in the Cost of Education Allowance payable to people in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance - reduced from €500 to €300.

To read AONTAS response to Budget 2012, visit our latest blog entry.

Conference calls for community education to be at the heart of SOLAS

Copy of NO FEE AONTAS_1

'Making a living - making a life' - Minister for Training and Skills Ciaran Cannon at the AONTAS Conference about community education on November 17th.

AONTAS Conference about community education 'Making a living, making a life' took place on Thursday 17th November in Dublin. Over 200 people attended the event, and fifteen different community education organisations took stands at the event. Keynote addresses included Professor John Field (Stirling University), Britten Mannson Wallin, Director at the Swedish National Council of Adult Education and Senator Katherine Zappone. Minister for Training and Skills Ciaran Cannon spoke to those attending. 'The goal of community education provision has been to raise people's capacities for participation on both a social and economic level and, in this regard, it should form an important part of any discussion on up-skilling and labour market activation' said the Minister.
Discussions from the conference will form the basis for a position paper on community education within SOLAS. Read more about community education and read about SOLAS. Read the conference presentations.