AONTAS Response to Appointment of Junior Minister for Lifelong Learning
21 Jun 2007 03:16 PM
The organisation welcomed the new cross-departmental focus of the Junior Minister and said it showed the government is finally acknowledging that adult learning impacts on a range of Government Departments, not just Education and Science.
"We believe that adults learn at home, in the community and in the workplace, as well as in more formal educational settings," said Berni Brady, Director of AONTAS. "So it makes absolute sense that the Junior Minister with responsibility for adult learning should work across a number of Government Departments, including Education and Science; Enterprise, Trade and Employment; Social and Family Affairs; and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The fact that Seán Haughey has been appointed to work across two of these Departments is a first step towards proper coordination of the adult learning sector."
Ms. Brady said AONTAS would concentrate over the coming months on making sure the new government keeps its pre-election promises to adult learners. "Fianna Fáil's election manifesto made commitments to abolish fees for part-time courses at third level and provide dedicated funding for English language training for targeted groups," she said. "These two developments are badly needed in the adult learning sector and we really hope Seán Haughey will work towards implementing them as soon as possible.
"We also hope the Minister of State will address other challenges facing the adult learning sector, such as the lack of a dedicated capital expenditure budget and the haphazard funding structures in place for community education groups. We welcome the government's acknowledgement that adult and community education are part of lifelong learning and we hope the change in the Minister's portfolio title will keep a strong focus on adult learning. AONTAS, in its role as the National Adult Learning Organisation, will continue to monitor the work of the government in relation to adult and community education, with a view to bringing the budget for the sector up to 10% of the overall education budget by the end of 2013.
"Seán Haughey has the opportunity now to continue the support he committed to Ireland's 300,000 adult learners at the Adult Learners' Festival in January 2007 and to leave behind a legacy of a coordinated, efficient and adequately funded adult learning service."
