'Activation Measures must be realistic, relevant, and lead to progression options', says Adult Learning Organisation
12 Mar 2010 12:44 PM
Activation measures must be 'realistic, relevant, and lead to progression options', said AONTAS Director Berni Brady, reacting to today's launch for proposals for a new €20 million Labour Market Activation Fund. The Fund is to be targeted at assisting 3,500 unemployed people this year through the provision of education and training. This new initiative follows a number of activation measures introduced in the Supplementary Budget of last year.
AONTAS is a key point of contact for adults seeking to return to education, often as a result of unemployment. Last year AONTAS received almost 6,000 queries from adults about their education options.
Reaction to measures in the Supplementary Budget has been mixed, with PLC courses over subscribed, while there is a relatively slow take up for shorter initiatives. According to Berni Brady, 'reasons cited include the mismatch between skills shortage areas and the needs and expectations of participants, as well as a lack of co-ordination between Education and Social Welfare - often leading to confusion about the eligibility criteria of applicants.'
'We would ask the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment to liaise closely with the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Social and Family Affairs in ensuring that measures are developed in line with the needs of people who are unemployed as well as economic opportunities' she continued. Short courses are not always the answer, they raise serious expectations which may not be met in the short term.
Meanwhile many adults who applied for third level courses and who are eligible for the Back to Education Allowance, also stand to lose out financially following the decision in Decembers Budget which means that they will no longer qualify for maintenance grant.
'The government should consider ringfencing part of this fund to support those with low skills to pursue third level education, if that is the option most appropriate to their needs', she concluded.
ENDS
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