Overview
September 2010 |
| What is meant in the country when you talk about
Adult Education? |
| Systematic learning undertaken by adults who return to learning having
concluded initial education and training. As such it includes aspects of
further and higher education, continuing education and training, community
education and other systematic deliberate learning by adults, both formal
and non formal. (White Paper, 2000) |
|
What is typical for Adult Education in the
country?
|
|
Adult and community education comprises a number of funded programmes including
the National Adult Literacy Programme, the Back to Education Initiative,
Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme, Youthreach, Senior Travellers Training
Centres, Community Education and the Adult Educational Guidance Initiative. In
addition FAS, the National Training Agency provides vocational training
including apprenticeships. There is also a range of non-formal community -based
providers catering for the needs of local and marginalised groups. Local schools
and colleges also deliver self financed adult education courses usually in the
evening.
|
|
Legal basis |
Government policy on adult education in Ireland is set out in the White
Paper, Learning for Life published in 2000. In addition several important
pieces of legislation have been enacted which impact on the delivery of
adult education services in Ireland e.g.
- The Education Act 1998
- The National Qualifications Act, 1999
- National Skills Strategy, 2007
- National Plan for Social Inclusion,2007 |
|
Responsible public bodies / ministries
|
Department of Education and Skills
Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs
Department of Social Protection
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation
www.irlgov.ie/departments
|
|
Relevant
umbrella associations and national (service) organisations
|
AONTAS, the National Adult Learning Organisation, www.aontas.com. AONTAS is a
non-government membership organisation established in 1969. Its mission is to
ensure that every adult in Ireland has access to appropriate and affordable
learning opportunities throughout their lives, thus enabling them to contribute
to and participate in the economic, social, civic and cultural development of
Irish society. It is a registered Charity and a company limited by guarantee. It
is core funded by the Department of Education and Skills and receives project
funding from other sources from time to time.
NALA, National Adult Literacy Agency, www.nala.ie. The National Adult Literacy
Agency is an independent charity committed to making sure people with literacy
and numeracy difficulties can fully take part in society and have access to
learning opportunities that meet their needs
|
|
Providers of Adult Education
|
The key statutory providers are the Vocational Education Committees (VECs) 33 in
all across the country. They are sub committees of the local councils and have a
network of schools and colleges across the country. They are responsible for the
delivery of the funded programmes mentioned above. They are also responsible for
public secondary education and more recently for a new public primary education.
Independent community based groups provide a wide range of programmes for local
communities and many marginalised groups. Religious institutions, trades unions
and NGOs also deliver education and training programmes
Third level providers deliver a range of courses through the Institutes of
Technology and the Universities.
|
| Finances |
Funding in the Education sector is provided through the Exchequer
(i.e.) taxation. In 2009 €9.3 billion was allocated to Education and
Skills. Of this €420 million or 4.37% was allocated to adult, community
and further education. This equates to .22% of GDP. This budget is
allocated to the VECs to provide the programmes outlined above. Adult
Education and Training Services are also part funded through the European
Structural Funds.
There is a broad range of self-financing adult education available to
learners through schools, colleges and private institutions. Fees are
charged at the discretion of the provider.
There are currently no fees for Irish citizens engaged in full time higher
education at first degree level. Students may also be entitled to means
-tested maintenance grants. However part-time and distance learning
courses must be financed by learners who are usually adults of mature age.
Some supports such as materials and childcare is available to adults on
funded programmes.
A Back to Education Allowance Scheme is available to support unemployed
people, lone parents and people with disabilities to undertake approved
second or third level courses . Until September of this year learners on
this scheme were also entitled to maintenance grants. This has been
withdrawn by government leading to further hardship for adult learners.
Following the collapse of the Irish economy in 2008 sweeping cuts have
been made across the board and further cuts are expected in the December
Budget.
One strategy recently introduced by government is a range of new 'Labour
Market Activation Measures' following a public tender in March 2010. An
initial figure of €20 million allocated to the measures was further
bolstered by an additional €12 million announced by Tánaiste and
Minister for Education and Skills ,Mary Coughlan. The Labour Market
Activation Measures target those with lower skills, and those who are seen
to be particularly hard hit by the recession, i.e. those in the 18-35 age
bracket. In general, to qualify for the initiatives a person must be
unemployed for at least three months, and this must be verified by the
local social welfare office. The measures are designed to cater for 11,000
people |
| Participation rate |
The following is the most recent information from the Central
Statistics Office (www.cso.ie) referring to lifelong learning
participation in Quarter 3, 2008
Participation in formal education among adults in Ireland in the 12 months
prior to Q3 2008 was equal to the average of 6% from the European Adult
education Survey 2007. Ireland ranked joint 10th among the 26 countries
for whom data was available. Participation in non-formal education was
23%, less than the European average of 33% and Ireland ranked 20th among
the 26 countries.
5% of adults over 25 reported receiving formal education in the year
previous to Q3 2008. Participation rates were highest at 11% for the 25-34
age group and decreased to 1% for those between 65-74. Those who were
unemployed were more likely to be in receipt of formal education than
those in employment ( 10% versus 6 %) while participation rate varied from
a low of 3% in the Border region to a high of 9% in Dublin.
With the rapid rise in unemployment following the collapse of the Irish
economy demand has been at an all time high with may providers reporting
multiple numbers of requests for single places on courses.
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|
Topics |
|
Adult and community education in Ireland covers a wide variety of topics and
areas ranging from basic education, personal development, hobby and leisure
courses, skills training, further and higher education. See AONTAS Information
Booklet available on the AONTAS website www.aontas.com
|
| Staff
|
|
The adult and community education sector in Ireland has grown
organically over the past forty years but the major changes have been in
the past ten years. Funded programmes have attracted a range of
professionals as well as volunteers. The table below categorises the types
of personnel engaged in the delivery of adult and community education and
training. The numbers of staff are indicated where data is available.
Complete data about the numbers of teachers, tutors and volunteers working
within the sector is unavailable although a large number of volunteers
work in the literacy service. The sector contains a variety of personnel
with a mix of qualifications ranging from informal training to accredited
courses at third level including certificate, diploma and masters awards
in adult education. No specific adult education qualification is required
to work in the sector but such a qualification is desirable. Statutory
providers have small budgets for Continuous Professional Development of
their staff.
|
Management
|
Chief
Executive Officers (33) , Education Officers, Adult education
Officers (50)
Community
project managers and management committees
Directors/managers
in higher education
|
Leadership,
Strategic
Planning,
Organisational
development,
Human
resources, technical and financial planning and management.
Quality
assurance and accountability.
|
|
Organisation
|
Community
education Facilitators (35)
Adult
Literacy Organisers (130)
Guidance
coordinators (38)
Development
workers
Programme
co-ordinators
|
Programme
planning,
Curriculum
development,
Support
to tutors and groups,
Networking
and capacity building,
Quality
assurance.
|
|
Teaching
and Learning
|
Tutors
Teachers
Trainers
Facilitators
Volunteers
Guidance
and Information staff
|
Teaching
courses,
Facilitation
of groups,
Skills-based
training,
Course
planning,
Curriculum
development and assessment,
Developing
progression and transfer.
|
|
|
Quality system / insurance |
|
Following the establishment of the National Qualifications Framework in 2003 and
the establishment of the Further Education and training Awards Council (FETAC)
in 2000 all providers offering accredited courses are required to comply with
the FETAC Quality Assurance system ( see FETAC website). The NFQ is a system of
ten levels, aligned with the European Framework of Qualifications which
incorporates awards made for all kinds of learning wherever it is gained.
Quality assurance systems are also in place for adult literacy as are benchmarks
for participation which have been surpassed in 2010. AONTAS in collaboration
with its women's community education groups has developed a Quality Assurance
Framework for Women's Community Education which can be accessed through its
website.
|
| Latest developments /
main problems in the discussion |
| The collapse of the Irish economy has led to a rapid spiral of
unemployment. Demand for adult education and training is at an all time
high while resources are diminishing to the sector. A government embargo
on public service recruitment is affecting the capacity of the service to
respond to demands as key personnel cannot be replaced on retirement,
maternity or sick leave. The government has allocated €32 million
towards activation measures for the unemployed and recruitment to these
programmes has started. It is hoped to service the training needs of
11,000 people. |
|
Overview written by Berni
Brady |
|
Relevant links
EAEA Country presentation: Ireland
General
country information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ireland
|
"Make an escalator going the right way". Interview with Alan Tuckett, President International Council for Adult Education
