Re-appointment of Junior Minister for Lifelong Learning ‘a wise decision’.
22 Apr 2009 05:53 PM
Berni Brady, Director of AONTAS, has this afternoon welcomed the reappointment of the Minister for State with Responsibility for Lifelong Learning, Sean Haughey.
'The government has made a wise decision to reappoint the Minister,' she said. 'AONTAS fought long and hard in the past for the appointment of a Junior Minister for lifelong learning until Willie O'Dea first 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'. Since that first appointment the sector has grown gradually, with over fifty thousand people taking part in adult literacy schemes, and over 300,000 people going back to take part in some form of learning each year. Getting rid of this Ministry would have undone years of hard work.'
'The adult and community education sector does not wield the same clout as the formal education sector within the Department. This is why it is crucial that the sector has a voice within the Department of Education and Science. We look forward to continuing to work with the Ministry to building a culture of lifelong learning in Ireland', she concluded.
ENDS
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