AEOA Challenge to Dept. of Education & Skills

 

The VOCATIONAL EDUCATION Service.

Address by Ger Canning AEOA V.P. to Seamus Hempenstall P.O., Further Education Section, Dept of Education & Skills.

At any given moments in our lives what we see before us is either an opportunity or an obstacle. AEOA believes that Adult Education is an opportunity; a beacon of light in an otherwise bleak landscape. The Irish economy is in deep recession. Unemployment is rising sharply. The forecast for the immediate future is daunting. Currently in Ireland, we constantly focus on our financial or economic capital. What we frequently fail to recognise is the potential wealth of our Social Capital.  Adult Education can be the tool and the Vocational Education Service the vehicle by which we cultivate this valuable resource along-side an up-skilled and flexible workforce.

The Vocational Education service has been the most consistent; financially effective response to social and economic crises since its founding in 1930.

This begs the question why are its proven competencies and skills been largely ignored at this time of quite similar social and economic crises

Consideration of the history of the VEC Service is hugely important at this time of such economic and social crises. 

Character of the VEC Adult Education Service – It has proven itself as follows:

– the personal development of the learner

– the social needs of the community

– the social cohesion in society

– the economic development of the nation

The above begs the question:

“Why is the VEC Adult Education Service so obviously absent from statements of government plan and policies purporting to be responding to the current economic and social crises in Ireland?”

The Adult Education Service offers a balanced approach to training and learning for our adult society.  While focusing on skills for employability we understand the importance of, and foster the skills for social inclusion.  Life-Long Learning is an essential tool, not only in its contribution to economic recovery, but in integrating people into civil society.

The effectiveness of the service arises from it ethos for, and capacity to respond efficiently to local needs in a national policy context.  As the Government seeks to respond to the current economic crises, the Department of Education and its locally funded adult training and education vehicle, the VEC should be, and must be to the forefront of its funded initiatives.

AEOA strongly recommends that the Back to Education Initiative is the most cost effective and efficient vehicle for delivering the quality training and up-skilling as proposed in The National Skills Strategy.

The nature of the BTEI embodies the core character of the VEC Adult Education Service as outlined above:

Critical theories on education argue that emancipation through education is possible; but this has to involve active participation from learners, providers and funders.  The members of AEOA manage a service that is the constant interface with the local learners and stand ready and are waiting to be actively involved with you the Department of Education.

AEOA Challenge to Dept of Edu & Science:

Our challenge to you, today, is for you, the Further Education Secion of Dept of Edu. and Sc.  to prove in Government circles that you should be the lead Department and we your local service should be funded as the lead providers responding to the demands of the National Skills strategy. 

There is an urgent need for this connection to be actively established.  The professionalism, creativity, and corporate knowledge of the individual members of AEOA is invaluable. Sharing our ideas, experience, and vision with you the State was never more important.

 

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