Second chance and adult education at the heart of future jobs strategy
16 Feb 2011 12:36 PM
For Immediate Release
Second chance education, upskilling and adult education should be at the heart of a recovery and future jobs strategy, according to AONTAS, the National Adult Learning Organisation.
Today AONTAS launched a set of campaign materials with key messages about adult learning for the attention of all political parties. The campaign, entitled 'Raise your Voice for Adult Learning' coincides with the fifth AONTAS Adult Learners' Festival with almost 200 events taking place around the country the week of February 21st to 25th.
Adult and further education currently provides approximately 200,000 adults with the opportunity to retrain or improve their skills. Figures from the Department of Education and Skills show an increase in the number of adults signing up for further education programmes of 36,000 over a two year period (from 2008 - 2010). In addition, over the past three years some 15,000 adults have returned to third level education, and thousands of adults are taking up evening courses, community education and non formal learning opportunities.
'Over the past year AONTAS has consulted widely with statutory education providers, community education organisations and individual adult learners,' said Berni Brady, AONTAS Director. 'Two clear messages emerged through that consultation:
- The adult and community education services are stretched to meet the current demand for adult learning. Despite increasing demand, the blanket public sector recruitment embargo means less staff to meet that demand. The embargo applies to all staff - except tutors and guidance counsellors who are defined as 'frontline'. Adult Education Officers, Community Education Facilitators, Adult Literacy Organisers, Information Officers - all of these roles cannot currently be replaced if existing staff retire, develop illness or go on maternity leave. There is only about 250 staff employed in the adult education services throughout the country. The services are also reliant on volunteers. 'A commitment to protect frontline services will not protect the adult education services' said Ms Brady. 'Out of a total of 49 Adult Education Officers positions in the VEC, nine are currently vacant due to the recruitment embargo. '
- There is a huge interest and enthusiasm for adult learning - but it needs to be affordable. Transport and childcare costs are real barriers to adults taking part in education. A drop in the number of mature student applications this year suggests that a third level education is now out of reach for many adults. The last two budgets have seen supports for adult learners gradually chiselled away - to the point where a working adult returning to third level education now has to pay full fees, a student contribution fee, books, transport and childcare. The Finance Bill recently passed now limits the tax relief formerly available to adults returning to third level.
Reacting to the publication of the party manifestos over the past week, Ms Brady said 'We would like to see a clear commitment from the various political parties to ensure that adults have access to quality learning, especially now when they need and want it most. 21% of the current workforce has less than their Junior Certificate - a huge challenge to our economic recovery. During the boom years, it is estimated that one in every five people was employed in the construction sector in Ireland. Over the past two and a half years, employment in the construction, manufacturing and retail sector has declined dramatically. With little immediate prospects for employment, many of those employed in these sectors have no other option other than to upskill or retrain. Furthermore, an increasing number of highly skilled adults have found themselves unemployed and adult education is providing a gateway for them to change career. This has led to a dramatic increase in the numbers of adults requesting further education and training making the sector one of the largest growth areas of the whole education system. Finally, what is deeply worrying is that 81% of those contacting us have indicated that they have been out of formal education for at least ten years. '
In July last year an ESRI report drew attention to Irelands growing unemployment crisis and highlighted the urgent need for investment in retraining and upskilling.
'We know that adult learning has an important role to play in our economic recovery, the rebuilding of our communities and the reform of our political structures' concluded Ms Brady. 'AONTAS has come across a range of adults who have turned their lives around when they are given a second chance at their education. Next week, the range of events and activities around the country during the Adult Learners' Festival will demonstrate exactly how.'
For more information contact:
Niamh Farren, Communications Officer 01 406 8220/ 087 911 0569
Notes to Editor:
1. AONTAS: the Voice of Adult Learning. AONTAS is the National Adult Learning Organisation, a membership organisation which represents 600 statutory and non formal learning organisations along with adult learners. The mission of AONTAS is to advocate for the right of every adult in Ireland to quality learning.
2. 'Raise your voice for adult learning' is the name of AONTAS General Election Campaign. More information about the campaign and campaign messages is available from http://www.aontas.com/download/pdf/raise_your_voice_for_adult_learning.pdf The campaign coincides with the fifth annual Adult Learners Festival, which runs this year from February 21st to 25th. Almost 200 events are taking place around the country, for more information visit www.adultlearnersfestival.com.
3. Three inspiring adults who have managed to turn their lives around as a result of adult education will feature in an advertising campaign advocating the benefits of adult learning which will run from February 16th to 22nd. Short snapshots of their stories in you tube format are available from www.aontas.com. For media interviews with adult learners, please contact Niamh Farren, Communications Officer.
NOTE:
Correction to this press release:
All AEGI guidance staff are not considered frontline staff and are therfore not replaced if they leave / secondment ends.
