Closure of IILT ‘a severe setback’ for immigrants
18 Jun 2008 04:46 PM
AONTAS Director Berni Brady today described the forthcoming closure of the IILT (Integrate Ireland Language and Training) as 'a severe setback' for immigrants in Ireland, in particular refugees. A spokesperson from the IILT has stated that the closure will result in the loss of direct teaching services to the adult refugee community as well as the loss of support and training to the language support programme in schools, training and online support and resources for teachers and tutors of adult ESOL learners. The closure also means that forty four people employed by the organisation stand to lose their jobs.
IILT has been providing full time language and integration classes to holders of Stamp 4 in centres around Ireland since 2001. Earlier this year the organisation was the winner of a national AONTAS STAR award - which recognises best practice and innovation in adult and community education.
'The IILT is a great example of how adult and community education contribute to integration', said Ms Brady. 'Tutors use practical examples and real life situations in their approach to teaching English to immigrants, so for example, parents might learn how to handle a parent teacher meeting, or a visit to the doctor. Their innovation and creativity was recognised by a prestigious panel of judges from the adult and further education sector who gave the group the National STAR award.'
'We are concerned that refugees and asylum seekers constitute an extremely vulnerable group in Irish society today,' continued Ms Brady. 'For example asylum seekers are currently not entitled to access further education, apart from basic literacy whilst their status is being reviewed, which further marginalises them from Irish society. The immediate challenge for someone coming to Ireland is not necessarily gaining a qualification, but rathermore having the opportunities to build friendships and an understanding of their new situation and environment. This is where adult and community education make a major contribution. Organisations like the IILT have built up considerable expertise and knowledge of the particular needs of these vulnerable groups and we are extremely concerned that this expertise is to be lost if the service is closed.'
'This year has been designated the European Year of Intercultural Dialogue. It is ironic that a language support service which is so badly needed by newcomers in Ireland is to be closed on foot of the progress already made this year to encourage better understanding and interculturalism' she concluded.
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Note to Editors
1. The IILT has been providing full time language classes to holders of Stamp 4 in centres around Ireland since 2001. Classes are provided in English for Living and Working in Ireland at 5 levels from Beginners up, with special Academic English classes for people needing to ratify qualifications or enter Higher Education in Ireland, Pre-vocational classes concentrating on the transition to the work place or further training, and English with Literacy classes. IILT also provides support and resources to primary and secondary school language support programmes, and distributes language and integration classroom materials and resources free of charge via its website to teachers and tutors throughout Ireland. For more information visit www.iilt.ie.
2. AONTAS is the National Adult Learning Organisation. AONTAS is a non-government membership organisation, established in 1969. The organisation's mission is to ensure that every adult in Ireland has access to appropriate and affordable learning opportunities throughout their lives, thus enabling them to contribute to and participate in the economic, social, civic and cultural development of Irish society. AONTAS is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. AONTAS represents over 600 members, ranging from statutory providers of adult education, such as VECs and third level institutions, to voluntary providers of community education, to individual adult learners and those with a general interest in adult education. The role of AONTAS is to work towards improving the adult education sector in Ireland through policy development, promoting the benefits of adult education and research.
