Policy News
April 2012: 'SOLAS - serving adult learners' - AONTAS report from the closing event of the Adult Learners' Festival 2012
During this event, AONTAS identified twenty seven different adult learners to engage in dialogue withe members of the SOLAS Implementation Group, about how the further education and training services could be enhanced. Minister of Education and Skills, Ciaran Cannon was invited to attend along with two other members of the SOLAS implementation Group, Paul O'Toole, CEO of FAS and Fiona Hartley, CEO of Wicklow VEC and IVEA representative. Seamus Hempenstall, PO of the Further Education Section of the DES also attended. The event built on work done by AONTAS two years ago in facilitating dialogue between adult learners and politicians through the replication of a T.D.s 'clinic', a process which proved to be highly successful. Read the report here.
January 2012: AONTAS submission to the Department of Education and Skills about SOLAS - the new training and education authority
In December 2011 the Department of Education and Skills launched a consultation process on the development of the new training and education authority SOLAS which replaces FÁS. Our submission focused not only on the role of adult learning in relation to skills, but the wider social value of adult learning. Secondly, our submission focused on the need for consultation with adult learners about the delivery of adult education services and how they can be enhanced from a learner's perspective. AONTAS believes that the key starting point in the design of the service should be the learner. An integrated quality service should cater for the wide range of learning needs ranging across skills training for the Labour Market, upskilling, personal development, social , cultural and civic development. Read the submission in full.
November 2011: Making a Living; Making a Life': AONTAS Conference on Community Education
This was the first national conference on community education and used a variety of techniques to explore the various challenges and opportunities for the community education sector. Community education facilitators, non formal community education practitioners, policy makers and learners all contributed to discussions and workshops which took place throughout the day. Key issues emerging from that day included the need to develop ways to measure the unique outcomes of community education, as well as the need for the social value of community education to be at the heart of the new training and education authority, SOLAS. These issues will be progressed by AONTAS together with members of the Community Education Network and the VEC sector. Read more about what happened on the day.
March 2011: Adult Learning and the Programme for Government
The new Programme for Government endorsed by Fine Gael and the Labour Party includes a number of commitments of relevance to adult learners and adult/community education providers- from aspirational right through to practical measures. They include a commitment to additional training and education places, broadening the eligibility criteria for the Back to Education Allowance, replacing FÁS with a new National Employments and Entitlements Service, and reviewing the third level funding structure to provide a sustainable base which does not limit access to students. Read more about the specific measures which will impact on the sector.
February 2011: Submission to the Department of Education and Skills on the contribution of community education to the National Skills Strategy
In this submission, AONTAS highlights the high quality provision deliverinformed choices about courses. Community education is vital in terms of ed by VECs. The Adult Education Guidance Service with the VEC structure helps adults make informed choices about courses. Community education is vital in terms of building generic skills and reachhering disadvantaged groups and individuals. Community education also offers a gateway to progression on and within the National Framework of Qualifications. Read the submission here.
February 2011: Raise your voice for adult learning!
In advance of the General Election, AONTAS has organised a campaign to concide with the Adult Learners' Festival. Download our General Election Toolkit to read about the major issues facing the sector, and the challenges that face adult learners. The toolkit gives you some points to make to candidates, as well as some sample questions.
July 2010: AONTAS meets with Minister for Social Protection Eamon Ó Cuiv
Berni Brady and Niamh Farren met with Minister O Cuiv and senior officials in the Department of Social Protection, to outline the challenges faced by adult learners following the withdrawal of entitlement to the Maintenance Grant for those in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance. John McCabe, who had completed a PLC course and applied for a place on a course at NUI Maynooth explained the financial implications for him personally. AONTAS also engaged with the Minister regarding the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous) Bill 2010. To read AONTAS submission to the Minister, click here.
February 2010: AONTAS hosts Adult Education Clinic
AONTAS recreated a constituency clinic for adult education on the closing day of the Adult Learners' Festival 2010. Participating elected representatives included Minister for Lifelong Learning, Sean Haughey, Brian Hayes, Fine Gael TD and Education Spokesperson, Paul Gogarty, Green Party TD and Education Spokesperson, and Aodhán O Riordain, Labour Party Councillor, who stepped in for Ruairi Quinn TD. The politicians heard first hand from education providers and learners about the impact of particular policy decisions - including the public sector recruitment embargo and the withdrawal of entitlement to the Maintenance Grant for those in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance. To read a short briefing paper which AONTAS presented to the politicians, click here. To read a press release about the event, click here.
December 2009: Budget 2010
Budget 2010 included some important changes for adult learners. The Budget announced substantial investment in the area of education and training. Maintenance grants were cut in line with social welfare cuts. Following the recommendation within the McCarthy report, those who are in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance will no longer be eligible for a Maintenance Grant. To read AONTAS reaction to the Budget, click here.
November 2009: AONTAS Regional Meetings
In Autumn 2009 AONTAS initiated a series of regional meetings throughout the country. The meetings were organised in partnership with statutory members of AONTAS (i.e. local VECs) and aimed to consult with providers about the main challenges faced by providers with increased demand on their services. Each meeting included a short presentation about a local initiative involving a high level of collaboration. Meetings took place in Cork, Cavan, Donegal, Carlow and Galway . The final meeting took place in Dublin, and featured a discussion on the themes emerging from the meetings. To read the final report from the meetings, click here.
April 2009: Many Happy Returns
The AONTAS AGM also the launch of AONTAS Local and European Elections Campaign . Campaign messages were presented on a specially designed birthday card, and used on the doorstep and in public meetings to promote adult education to those who were standing for election. To view the birthday card, click here. To read AONTAS position paper which was launched in advance of the elections click here.
April 2009: Supplementary Budget
The Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Education & Science and the Department of Social & Family Affairs produced a number upskilling and retraining measures for the unemployed. To read about the initiatives in full, click here.
February 2009: Making the Case for Adult Learning
On February 6th, the final day of the Adult Learners' Festival, AONTAS organised a Lobby for Learning Day at the National Library. During the event 'I'm an Adult Learner, Invest in Me!', AONTAS launched a snapshot research study based on the experiences of three very different adult learners - the cost of their education as adults and the monetary outcomes of that investment. Click here to read the research.
In addition, the NEAR Media Co-op filmed short soundbites from well known figures in Irish public life, who made a case for investment in adult learning. NEAR also set up a Lobby for Learning Booth at the Library where those attending could make their own case for investment.
January 2009: Submission to the Integration Unit, Department of Education and Science, on an Intercultural Education Strategy
This submission draws on the outcomes of AONTAS recent conference 'Creating Intercultural Communities', and outlines the rationale and proposals around how adult education can be strengthened to contribute towards interculturalism. To read the submission in full, click here.
July 2008: Submission to the Interdepartmental Committee for the Implementation of the National Skills Strategy
In this submission, AONTAS calls on the goverment to seriously address low levels of participation in adult learning amongst Irish adults and to take measures to remove the barriers. Click here to read the submission.
July 2008: AONTAS Makes Submission to Government on the Student Support Bill (2008)
In this submission AONTAS contributes to the debate on the Student Support Bill (2008) which aims to address the support needs of Third Level students, including mature students. AONTAS, as a membership organisation, is well placed to recognise and document the barriers to participation facing adult learners wishing to access educational opportunities at third level. In the submission AONTAS identifies the challenges for this group of adult learners and makes recommendations for amendment to the student support bill (2008) in order to better address these challenges. To read AONTAS' submission in full click here.
April 2008: Meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Science on new Student Support Bill (2008)
Supporting Students Who Support Themselves
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on education and Science met yesterday (24th April) to hear presentations from relevant organisations and individuals on the new student support bill (2008). Among those presenting to the committee was AONTAS member and mature student at NUI Maynooth, Stephen Stewart. Stephen called on the Government to amend the new bill to allow adult learners from low income backgrounds to avail of greater financial supports.
In a proposal to Government Stephen outlined the disparity in educational support between mature students from low income backgrounds (on minimum wage) and mature students in receipt of social welfare payments. Mature students on minimum wage (€17,992 p.a.) earn less than mature students in receipt of the maximum social welfare payment (€18,055 p.a.). However, Stephen explained that while social welfare recipients are entitled to financial supports of up to €25,266 per year a mature student who has worked in low paid employment in the year prior to starting a full time course at third level is entitled to only €4,103 per year. Over a three year degree course Stephen has calculated that this leads to a €63,489 disparity in financial supports. "So going to work actually cost me nearly €64,000. At the moment the system penalises those who work. Ultimately people on the same income, no matter what the source, should be treated the same". To view Stephen Stewart's proposal in full click here.
