Festival Celebrates ‘Champions’ in Education.

Issued : Monday 4 February, 2008

'Adult education makes a significant contribution to enriching the lives or participants, and its ultimate effect is to enhance the quality of our society generally', announced Minister for Lifelong Learning Sean Haughey today in front of a packed audience of over three hundred adult education practitioners, providers and learners, at the launch of the second AONTAS Adult Learners' Festival at Dublin Castle. The Minister spoke shortly before the AONTAS STAR Awards ceremony for adult learning projects. The ceremony kicks off a week of events and activities taking place all around the country to promote adult learning.

'Greater participation in lifelong learning must be encouraged at all ranks', said the Minister. 'Employees must be motivated and facilitated to increase their skill levels and qualifications, to acquire new skills and knowledge in different areas and to renew existing skills to stay abreast of technology and other developments.'

Micheal O'Muircheartaigh, better known in his role as RTE sports broadcaster, also voiced strong opinions in favour of increased support for the adult education sector. In his keynote address, the broadcaster made a clear connection between poverty and educational deprivation, as well as drawing attention to the intergenerational nature of educational disadvantage. 'The initial effort must go into persuading adult people in deprived areas of the value of education and the desirability to bring their children to accept that culture,' he said. 'A wonderful opportunity presents itself to the Government in conjunction with the praiseworthy redevelopment housing project already underway in deprived areas of Limerick City, I believe that a comprehensive programme that would provide the education they missed out on to the adult population would be a very worthwhile investment towards changing the atmosphere and winning the confidence of the current generation of school age youth.'

The broadcaster went on to present eleven adult learning projects from four Irish provinces with their awards. Speaking on behalf of FETAC at the closing of the event, Andrina Wafer described providers and practitioners present as 'Champions', through their work in encouraging adult learners to pursue their education.

A number of events are scheduled to take place around the country, and further information is available from AONTAS, or from the festival website www.adultlearnersfestival.com. The closing event for the festival on Friday 8th is a panel discussion involving the education spokespersons from Government and the Opposition. Entitled 'Learning Matters - Keeping Adult Learning on the Political Agenda', the event will consider the immediate priorities for adult education in Ireland and will be chaired by RTE broadcaster Rachael English. The discussion will also be informed by a presentation from Siemens Ireland and the experience of Stephen Stewart, a mature student from NUI Maynooth.

For more information contact:
Niamh Farren, Communications Officer

01 406 8220/ 087 911 0569

For further information please contact:
Niamh Farren : nfarren@aontas.com