Dispelling Myths about Older Learners
22 Jul 2008 03:17 PM
Have you ever heard the expression 'you can't teach an old dog new tricks'? Today (Wednesday July 16th) over eighty eager older learners will prove this statement wrong at the first Older Learners' Network which takes place at the Galway Bay Hotel. The meeting is organised by AONTAS, the National Adult Learning Organisation.
'AONTAS was recently supported to carry out a piece of research by Age and Opportunity', explained Berni Brady, AONTAS Director. Through our research we found that contrary to a lot of myths out there, older people have a huge interest in learning. By 2025 it is predicted that 36% of our population will be aged 50 plus. Education has been identified as a way for people coping with change, and so being involved in education can bring huge benefits for someone getting older. These benefits include a healthy and active mind, the chance to socialise and get together, as well as practical skills such as coming to grips with mobile phones and new technologies that are a requirement now in modern day life.'
Two people who are sure to inspire anyone to go back to education and who will be attending the meeting are Dr Martin Spillane and his wife Lucilla. Having initially left university first time around without completing his degree, Martin went back to education and completed a BSc at the age of 53, followed by a MA (with Distinction) in International and Comparative Studies in Adult Education when he was 55. He was awarded his Warwick PhD on first submission at 60 years of age. Martin is now busily involved with setting up Bréifne U3A (University of the Third Age), to cover the Roscommon, Leitrim and Sligo areas.
Lucilla's story is somewhat different. She had epilepsy from the age of seven, which totally disrupted her formal education. By the time she was sixteen, long periods in hospital meant she had only had four years full-time education. With Martin's encouragement, in her mid-fifties she enrolled for a part-time BA in English and Creative Writing. 'For me this was really the beginning of my education', said Lucilla, who sometimes took two classes in one evening. She went on to graduate in 2004 and signed up for a Masters Degree and is in the process of writing her dissertation on 'The influence of the poetry of A. E Housman'. Lucilla wasn't phased at all by sitting in a classroom full of younger students. 'It was great fun,' she says. 'Most of them were thinking about their qualifications, and their careers. For me, it was more about satisfying myself. All my life I was told that I couldn't do this, and had to fight for it. It's boosted my confidence. It's more than a bit of paper for me, I can honestly say that the BA has given me an education as well as a degree', she says.
'We've found that setting up learner networks is a great way to bring learners together, and get them to share their experience of going back to learning' explained Membership Development Officer Niamh O'Reilly. 'This discussion can allow people to talk about the benefits of learning, but also to look at the challenges they encounter such as finance or other support. AONTAS can then support learners to progress common issues themselves locally whilst we highlight the needs of older learners nationally. We endeavour to increase the capacity of learners to identify their needs and to lobby themselves.
The event brings together older people involved in organisations such as the U3A, Age Action and Active Retirement Ireland. The meeting will also hear from Louise Richardson, CEO with the Older Womens' Network, and who is also Vice Chair of the AGE Platform in the EU and represents 9 older peoples groups. Louise was also chairperson for the Year of Older People in 1999 and CEO of the Hospice Foundation.
AONTAS research report on the lifelong learning needs of Older People will be available later this year.
ENDS
For more information contact
Niamh Farren Communications Officer 01 406 8220/ 087 911 0569
Note to Editor
1. 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.
2. The University of the Third Age (U3A) movement was created in France in 1972 when staff at the University of Toulouse created a learning movement for older people. The movement quickly spread from France to the UK in 1982 where there are currently some 500 U3As with more than 120,000 members. In 1995 Age Action Ireland introduced the U3A learning model to Ireland where it is supported by the Department of Education and Science.
