Adult education a cornerstone for creating employment
10 May 2011 09:16 AM
Adult education a cornerstone for creating employment
Adult education should be a cornerstone of the new Jobs Initiative, according to AONTAS Director Berni Brady. Ms Brady was speaking at the AONTAS AGM and the launch of a new strategic plan at the Clarion Hotel in Dublin, which coincides with the launch of a new Jobs Initiative to be published later today by the Government. Over seventy representatives of the adult and community education sector, including adult learners, attended the meeting.
Reflecting on developments over the past year, Ms Brady said 'The new AONTAS Strategic Plan entitled 'Voice, Visibility, Value' launched today captures the contributions of over 300 individuals and organisations involved in adult learning, and is endorsed today by our membership which includes almost 600 organisations and individuals nationwide.'
'We call on the government to recognise the dynamic response and 'second chance' that adult education is offering people experiencing unemployment, said Ms Brady. The adult education services throughout the country are playing a key role in supporting people through the recession - by providing learning opportunities for people who are low skilled and missed out on their education first time around, while also offering up skilling and reskilling for those employed in declining sectors such as construction. In addition, adult education has been proven to encourage people to get involved in their communities, to take better care of their health and become more active citizens. AONTAS recently made a submission to the Department of Education and Skills highlighting the contribution of community education to the National Skills Strategy. AONTAS also recently launched the first nationwide study which documents the social outcomes for adults participating in community education funded by the Department of Education and Skills. On balance, the outcomes of these initiatives indicate a substantial monetary return on the initial investment by the State.'
Last year the government funded a number of training initiatives through the 'Labour Market Activation Measures' which provided a variety of training places for 10,500 people who were unemployed, some of which were provided by local VECs. 'As IBEC has already stated in its submission last week, it is important that the Government initiate an immediate review of the measures, in order to consider the outcomes of these programmes. From our own consultation with those providing both formal and non formal education for adults, as well as adult learners themselves, education and training must lead to progression onto employment or further education. Initiatives must also be flexible to meet the learning needs and family commitments of adults ' continued Ms Brady.
On the forthcoming rationalisation of VECs from 33 to 16, Ms Brady said 'It is vitally important that the adult education services are protected within the rationalisation process. The sector has been hit disproportionally as a result of the Public Sector Recruitment Embargo. With demand at an all time high (an average of 3 applications for VEC courses), the sector needs to be resourced in order to deliver.'
One example of how adult education is meeting the challenges of recession is Longford Women's Link, a community organisation which offers a number of training and education opportunities to local women in the area - particularly those at risk of long term unemployment. Representatives from Longford Women's Link gave a brief presentation at the meeting. The centre operates a Community Employment Scheme which was recently evaluated to identify its particular outcomes. A study of the thirty four women who have participated in the scheme over a three year period found the following outcomes:
- Fourteen women went onto take up employment following their participation on the scheme. This represents a 70% success rate in moving women into employment.
- Three of the women are currently pursuing further education.
- Out of the thirty four women, fourteen remain employed at the Centre.
'These kinds of examples show that given the resources, the adult education services can deliver', concluded Ms Brady.
ENDS
For more information/interviews, contact:
Niamh Farren, Communications Officer 087 911 0569
Note to Editor
1. The new AONTAS strategic plan, which outlines the current situation for the adult learning sector, along with AONTAS priorities is available on the AONTAS website at http://www.aontas.com/pubsandlinks/publications/strategic-plan-20112013
2. The AONTAS annual report 2010, which summarises the main activities of the organisation during 2010, is available on the AONTAS website at http://www.aontas.com/pubsandlinks/publications/annual_report_2010
3. AONTAS submission to the Department of Education and Skills which highlights the contribution of community education to the National Skills Strategy is available at the following link: http://www.aontas.com/download/pdf/aontas_submission_to_des_feb_11.pdf
