What does reopening mean for your organisation post COVID-19 restrictions?

The MED Group has evolved from an important ‘pop up’ to a ‘standing’ group which means that it’s now on a more permanent footing. This change in status recognises the importance of the work being carried out by the MED Group and how it must continue to play a central role in advising the Department of Education and Skills during the crisis by feeding in on the issues facing people who didn’t get the same opportunities as others across the adult and community education sector.  

In order to effectively and comprehensively bring all of the issues to Government which AONTAS members have been coping with and overcoming despite the health emergency, AONTAS has carried out a number of activities to engage with its members and stakeholders across the sector (Click Here for more details). Everything members have communicated has informed the ongoing response to the pandemic and their contributions have been directly involved in producing a range of outputs. For example, recent Discussion Papers have been produced with strong recommendations made to the Department of Education and Skills. These Papers and summaries of their recommendations can be found Here. 

One of the most useful responses to the current situation has been the weekly AONTAS Membership Update and Engagement Webinar every Wednesday (2-3pm). This series of online meetings offer not just a unique opportunity to voice concerns and potential solutions to the current emergency but also provides members with an important time and space to come together in solidarity, reflect, and support one another. To find out more about what was covered in the previous three webinars please Click Here.

At the most recent webinar on Wednesday, 22^nd April over 30 participants heard Niamh give an update on the work of the MED Group. Participants made invaluable contributions in virtual breakout rooms when asked about the main challenges they may face regarding planning for a post-lockdown return. AONTAS staff were on hand in each group to listen to members, record their thoughts, note their recommendations, and to provide feedback.

The main challenges discussed revolved around what a return to ‘some kind of normality’ might look like in the future; and what might make this process easier and safer for organisations, staff and learners. The full range of comments and concerns voiced have been documented. There was huge overlap between the issues each member described. The areas raised could be organised into various categories and the list given below does not cover all of them. The brief insight here is intended to give a sense of the depth and breadth of participants’ excellent contributions to the discussion on the 22^nd of April

Challenges for AONTAS members as organisations

• How will funding be affected in relation to social distancing and safe provision, for example where tutors shifts/hours may need to change to ensure class sizes comply with HSE safety guidelines?
• Will funders adapt by reducing class size requirements?
• Need to ensure that staff and learners are kept safe and feel secure
• What does best practice look like for recruiting in a COVID-19 world
• What can organisations do to re-establish and reinvigorate the values underpinning adult and community education practice and when?

Challenges staff may face

• Everyday working culture and tutors’ practices will have to adapt to ensure safety for all and quality provision to learners
• New innovative ways will be required to re-engage learners and reach new ones
• Older tutors, and staff living with vulnerable family members, with underlying issues may not be available to work due to cocooning
• What kind and how much Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be needed to safely and comfortably continue working?
• What new kinds of CPD would support the new way of working?

Challenges for learners

• How will any stigma associated with COVID-19 be managed?
• For different learner groups there will be different needs, for example the disproportionate impact of the virus on older learners will need to be considered, those with respiratory vulnerabilities and underlying conditions likewise; lone parents will have another set of concerns that will require flexibility such as anxiety about their children and procuring childcare; those on courses for English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) will need multilingual and accessible signage so communications is clear
• Digital literacy and access to devices are just some of the aspects of what will be needed in terms of the resources required to continue learning online
• learners’ priorities have shifted away from education to the immediate urgent issues of reduced income and unemployment
• ‘Learning at home’ is not feasible without a home or when living in difficult conditions

To balance the above anxieties there was also a high level of appreciation and aspiration from participants. AONTAS members shared some very positive and very hopeful messages to put all of our problems in perspective. For example, members described and recognised how all of the amazing work done and excellent relationships forged before the coronavirus crisis have meant that there are still very supportive and resilient learners, communities of practice alongside an incredible solidarity between AONTAS members at this difficult time. Others pointed out that active citizenship training and an inclusive ethos are already embedded in adult and community education work which will provide an essential framework for, and even and advantage over other sectors when, dealing with the challenges. For instance, adult and community education will be well positioned to communicate accurate accessible information on COVID-19 and for ensuring that entire communities will be able to protect themselves and those around them better. Again, the fact was referred to that the sector is by nature well-tuned into, highly familiar with and custom-designed for overcoming massive systemic challenges and structural disadvantages for generations. This resilience and innovation positions us all relatively and collectively well for adapting to and succeeding in meeting whatever challenges lie ahead.   

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To be part of the sector’s effort to identify and respond to this unprecedented situation Click Here and register for the next AONTAS Membership Update and Engagement - Weekly Webinar. These webinars are open to members only and it is essential to register in order to participate.

Further information on AONTAS membership is available here. 

Go to AONTAS Blogs for more context and blogs about the current situation as it has been unfolding.  

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