Adult learning hit by ban on hiring

A BAN on public service recruitment is worsening the crisis facing people seeking adult education services, it was claimed yesterday. AONTAS, the national adult learning organisation, is receiving hundreds of calls a month from people on waiting lists for courses. But, it says, problems are increased by the inability of Vocational Education Committees (VECs) to fill vacancies when adult education officers, guidance counsellors and co-ordinators of back-to-education programmes retire or take extended leave.

"The moratorium on staff has had an effect on the service as a large proportion of staff is female and those on maternity leave are not replaced and there is less capacity at a time when it is needed most," AONTAS director, Berni Brady, said.

The organisation was contacted by 316 people in August and September who were on waiting lists for courses, including 289 seeking entry to oversubscribed courses run by their local city or county VEC.

In a report launched yesterday, AONTAS cautioned against a withdrawal or cuts in government funding for adult education services, which foster sustainable development, social inclusion and active citizenship.

The most notable change in course applicants has been the increase in unemployed young men with poor literacy levels, it said.

"Many services are full, there is a lack of continuity between courses, and a mismatch between courses and the current jobs market," the report states.

Ms Brady said there has been a growth in ad-hoc courses that do not address learners' needs, and short-term interventions onlypaper over cracks in the services.

The Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA), which represents the 33 VECS, said scarce resources must be prioritised.

"This is no time for cutting access to back-to-education schemes, capping places on Post Leaving Certificate courses or weakening the service through the recruitment moratorium. This Government policy must be reviewed," said IVEA general secretary, Michael Moriarty.

Addressing an international conference in Dublin hosted by the National Adult Literacy Agency, Lifelong Learning Minister Sean Haughey said the Government has maintained adult literacy services at 49,000 places again this year.

"The need for our people to upskill and reskill is very clear, especially in these difficult economic times," he said.