AONTAS Calls for Introduction of Paid Educational Leave
12 Sep 2006 09:47 AM
OECD figures published today show that Irish adults will spend just over 200 hours in non-formal job-related education and training over a typical working life. In contrast, adults in Denmark will spend well over 900 hours pursuing similar educational activities.
According to Berni Brady, Director of AONTAS - the National Association of Adult Education - today's OECD report proves that more needs to be done to encourage lifelong learning in Ireland. "Ireland is ranked sixth from the bottom out of 22 OECD countries in the number of hours adults can expect to spend in job-related education and training," she said. "Today's report shows that there are substantial differences in participation rates in lifelong learning across OECD countries. In Denmark, Finland, Sweden and the United States, over 35% of the adult population have participated in some type of non-formal job-related education over the past 12 months. In Ireland, however, this figure is only 11%. Because Irish employees aren't engaging in education and training opportunities at the same rate as their counterparts in other countries, we are in danger of losing our competitive edge. High-powered companies want highly skilled employees. And if they can't find those employees in Ireland, the danger is they will move elsewhere."
Ms. Brady said a major incentive for workers to engage in education and training would be the introduction of paid educational leave. "We have constantly called on the Government to introduce paid educational leave for Irish workers," she said. "Ireland is one of the only countries in the former EU 15, where paid educational leave is not a statutory entitlement. A huge challenge urgently facing the Government, along with employers and unions, is the development of a funding model to support workers in education and training. Increasing workforce education levels would not only lead to greater prosperity in the Irish economy, but would also have profound effects on Irish society, including an increase in social inclusion and active citizenship."
