“As long as there is apartheid within the Irish education system, there will be a class apartheid in our society”

An interview with actor and writer Emmet Kirwan as part of our “Holding You Back” campaign on the barriers to education
Holding You Back Campaign: Reflections from AONTAS CEO Dearbháil Lawless

A reflection by AONTAS CEO Dearbháil Lawless on the importance of adult and community education, following our ‘Holding You Back’ campaign.
More work needed in combatting ageism in Ireland

Christine O’Kelly from DCU on ageism in Ireland and making a more age-friendly and inclusive society.
Christine chats with our Membership and Digital Engagement Officer Brian Desmond and Education Projects Officer Ruby Cooney
‘Forget about the age, just think about the person’: DCU as an age-friendly university

A chat between Christine O’Kelly from DCU on being a global leader as an age-friendly university, and our Membership and Digital Engagement Officer Brian Desmond and Education Projects Officer Ruby Cooney
Presenting Learner Voice Research at the Scuola Democratica Conference in Sardinia

The “Third International Conference of the journal Scuola Democratica”, took place at the University of Cagliari, Sardinia (Italy), 3-6 June 2024. The Scuola Democratica conference is devoted to the needs and prospects of education and/for social justice.
Budget 2025: AONTAS calls for greater investment in adult learners as approximately 1 in 3 cite lack of financial supports as key barrier to education

With the next Budget soon on the horizon, we are calling on the Government to recognise that people are still being left behind in the Irish education system.
Cavan and Monaghan ETB lead the way in ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) in 2024

On 4th June, Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board launched new awards for ‘English for Speakers of Other Languages’ (ESOL). This is a pioneering initiative for inclusive education and language support for migrant learners across Ireland, introducing a much-needed new approach to ESOL learning.
‘Building Stable Roots in a Sustainable Learning Ecosystem’: An insight into the Project Advisory Group for NEAAL 2024-25

In May, we held the first meeting of the Project Advisory Group for our latest large-scale European programme. This group bringing together leading education experts and representatives from the Government, education institutions, social partners, and civil society organisations.
Exploring Voter Education programmes among Urban and Rural Women Groups in Ireland

Women’s Collective Ireland Ronanstown and Women’s Collective Ireland Mullingar/Women’s Community Projects, Mullingar recently created a Voter Education programme, in partnership with Dublin Adult Learning Centre (DALC), as part of the New European Agenda for Adult Learning.
GATHER: Discovering Assistive Technology Together in 2024

In May, AHEAD – a non-profit working to create inclusive environments in education and employment for people with disabilities – organised a 3-day event about assistive technology, in partnership with the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) and AONTAS.