New Access Plan for Education identifies ‘Room for Improvement’
9 Jul 2008 02:34 PM
Today, Berni Brady Director of AONTAS gave her support for the National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education, launched this morning for the Higher Education Authority (HEA) by Minister for Education Batt O'Keefe. 'AONTAS is fully supportive of any plan which attempts to deliver real supports to adult learners', she said.
The plan warns that improvements to the educational profile of the adult population will be crucial to our national economic competitiveness. 'The plan actively recognises the economic and social value of education' she continued. 'AONTAS is particularly interested in the commitments made in the plan to increase our participation in lifelong learning.'
The HEA also identifies a number of areas where our record in education is weak. Participation in lifelong learning is still relatively low in comparison to the OECD average. In 2004, 7% of Irish adults took part in lifelong learning initiatives. This compares with an EU average of 10% and participation rates of between 25% and 36% in Scandinavian countries. 'Unfortunately, there are no surprises here' said Ms Brady. 'The findings echo the concerns identified within the National Skills Strategy.' Ireland's investment in education is also poor in comparison to other countries. For example the percentage of GDP spent on education currently stands at 4.7%, in contrast to Finland where the percentage of investment stands at 7.5%.
The plan outlines a number of ambitious targets regarding the participation of mature students. According to the report, mature students will comprise at least 20% of total full time entrants by 2013 (13% in 2006) and 27% of all (full time and part time) entrants by 2013 (18% in 2006). 'In order to even come close to these targets, a number of significant changes are called for', said Ms Brady. 'First of all, the report notes that mature students often need access to ancillary supports such as guidance initiatives. Secondly, it recognises that adults need a range of part-time flexible courses that suit their needs. Thirdly, the report confirms our own research that finance continues to be the most significant hurdle faced by adults in their attempts to improve their skills. We are also concerned that the new Student Support Bill refers to 'appropriate' courses, which will be interpreted to mean full time courses, which will actively discourage mature students who want to avail of more flexible options.'
The research also tracks the participation rates for a new category of 'non-manual' workers. 'This new category includes anything from clerical workers and childcare workers to sales occupations', Ms Brady explained. 'What is deeply worrying is that in this category, participation levels have dropped - from 29% in 1998 to 27% in 2004. Given the current economic climate, people employed in these types of jobs are particularly vulnerable.'
'We are committed to working together with the HEA, the Interdepartmental Committee and the Department of Education and Science and other bodies to seriously meet these targets,' she concluded.
ENDS
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Note to Editors
1. AONTAS is the National Adult Learning Organisation. AONTAS is a non-governmental 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.
2. The National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education was launched on July 9th. The Plan was developed by the National Access Office of the HEA, in partnership with the Department of Education and Science and in close liaison with higher education institutions and other stakeholders in the education sector. It outlines the current challenge in terms of low rates of participation in higher education by certain socio-economic groups and sets clear targets to be met over the next five years to address this problem.
