Adult Learning Organisation urges government to retain Minister for Lifelong Learning
7 Apr 2009 09:47 AM
AONTAS, the National Adult Learning Organisation, has today appealed to the Taoiseach to retain the Minister for Lifelong Learning.
Ms Brady was speaking after the announcement made by Taoiseach Brian Cowen this afternoon where he asked all twenty Junior Ministers to tender their resignation, with a view to reappointing fifteen of them.
'AONTAS has fought long and hard in the past for the appointment of a Junior Minister with a specific remit for lifelong learning, until Willie O'Dea took office in 1997' she said. One of the first achievements of this Ministry was the publication of the first White Paper on adult education, 'Learning for Life.' Over the past few years we have witnessed this role grow and develop, as it was expanded to include the Department of Enterprise and Employment following the last general election. 'Since this particular Junior Ministry was established, participation in adult learning has grown. For instance, in the past ten years, participation in adult literacy services has increased tenfold, from five thousand to fifty thousand. Schemes such as the Back to Education Initiative are now widely accessed by people and we have started to really develop the infrastructure to allow people to go back to learn.'
'This Ministry is crucial in the current economic climate,' she continued. 'The Minister for Lifelong Learning currently chairs the Inter-Departmental Committee charged with responsibility for the preparation of an Implementation Plan for the National Skills Strategy. It will be a case of the government cutting off its nose to spite its face.'
'Lifelong learning is the cornerstone of our economic development. Meeting the challenges of upskilling and workforce development are vital if we are to come through the recession. The adult education sector does not have the same voice and access to resources within the Department of Education. Without a Minister, adult and community education will not have the same recognition, resources and representation. We realise that the current economic circumstances require the government to be more efficient with the resources available, but this move would undo years of hard work in the sector,' she explained.
'Axing the Minister for Lifelong Learning would put us back to where we were twenty years ago' she concluded.
ENDS
For more information contact:
Niamh Farren, Communications Officer 01406 8220/ 087911 0569
