Adult Learners’ Forum of Ireland to highlight barriers to education and training
27 Oct 2011 10:54 AM
Adults returning to education should be consulted about the type of education and training they need, as well as the support they require to stay with and fully avail of courses on offer, according to a meeting of the Adult Learners' Forum of Ireland (ALFI) today at the Ashling Hotel in Dublin. The meeting, which was attended by over seventy adults engaged in education and training from literacy right through to third level - was addressed by John Lonergan, former Governor of Mountjoy Prison.
Speaking at the event, Mr Lonergan said "While I acknowledge the huge progress made in our educational services over the past forty years or so, numerous stumbling blocks still exist which prevent many people, again young and old, from accessing appropriate educational services and skills training, for example, failure to diagnose and treat learning difficulties, poverty and its many consequences for families and individuals, family support services to enable parents access education and training, lack of convenient facilities and services, and the often overlooked issue of the lack of personal confidence to apply and access courses. With the alarming levels of unemployment currently afflicting our country the demand for adult education and skills training will continue to grow and the Government must ensure that during such stressful and often traumatic times for people they must not be further disappointed and alienated when they seek to return to adult education only to learn that they are once again at the end of long waiting lists - they deserve better."
The need to establish some mechanism by which adults can channel their views on education and training was identified by AONTAS some years ago. The development is timely, given the growing numbers of adults currently engaging with education and training with a view to improving their employment prospects. The recession has prompted a huge interest in education and training, as well as a number of new Government initiatives, including the recent Springboard initiative. A key development for adult learners will be the establishment of SOLAS, which will provide a unifying structure for the further education and training sector. Plans for this new agency are currently being developed by an Implementation Group chaired by the Minister for Training and Skills Ciaran Cannon.
'We understand that a unique feature of the new SOLAS agency will be the focus on learners, i.e. adults accessing or seeking to access training and education', explained AONTAS Director Berni Brady. 'Key questions that SOLAS will consider include what skills and supports adults need to re-enter the labour market. We hope that that the Adult Learners' Forum of Ireland will provide a structure where adult learners can answer these kinds of questions and communicate their experiences to policy makers in a co-ordinated way. In addition the Forum will provide valuable information and support to adults who return to education.'
Over the past two years there has been a surge in the number of adults accessing education and training. Last year, over 25,000 adults availed of the Back to Education Allowance, a payment from the Department of Social Protection which allows adults to keep their social welfare payments while they complete their education at second or third level. Meanwhile approximately 165,000 adults availed of a further education option on a part time or full time basis - including VTOS, PLC courses, VEC courses and Youthreach.
Challenges already identified by adult learners include funding, childcare and transport. 'When you have a family you can't just move to be closer to college' said one adult learner who attended the event. 'Getting to and from a course can be expensive'. AONTAS has also noted that many adults return to education after many years out of a formal education setting. 'We are interested to hear about the experience of adults and the supports (for eg guidance or finance) they need to progress in their learning', said Ms Brady. 'We know that for example at third level the highest dropout rates for adults occur after the first year. In the current climate, it's not enough to fill courses; people will need support, such as financial support and adult guidance to stay the course.'
During the event, Mr Lonergan also launched ''Hearing the adult learner voice' - a toolkit for setting up a local adult learner forum', which was developed by AONTAS to develop the Forum at local level, and provide a strong, national voice for adult learners throughout Ireland.
ENDS
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Niamh Farren - Communications Officer - 01 406 8220/087 911 0569
Note to Editor:
1. AONTAS is the National Adult Learning Organisation, a membership organisation with over 500 members nationwide. The mission of AONTAS is to advocate for the right of every adult in Ireland to quality learning.
2. The Adult Learners' Forum of Ireland (ALFI) was established by AONTAS in 2010. The first meeting took place in October 2010. The Forum will deal exclusively with the concerns of adult learners - which include any adult participating in literacy, the Back to Education Initiative, community education, FÁS training programmes, PLC, Youthreach training courses and mature students at third level.
