Feedback on adult education

Event to improve FET services

Fifty-nine adult learners from across Tipperary gathered at the Anner Hotel in Thurles for a regional meeting of the National Further Education and Training (FET) Learner Forum. The meeting's purpose as to share experiences and provide feedback on adult education to improve FET services throughout the county.

During the discussions, participants expressed their appreciation for the opportunity to have their voices heard. One learner commented, “I loved the discussion section. We were all given the opportunity to express ourselves and our voices were heard.”

This emphasis on ‘Learner Voice’ is crucial in shaping the educational experience of further learning and is an area in which Ireland continues to lead in Europe.

Learners highlighted the quality and enjoyment of courses, the supportive encouragement from tutors, and the accessibility of one-to-one supports and services as positive aspects of their educational experiences with FET.

Outdated equipment and IT, challenges in securing work placements, and the size of ‘English for Speakers of Other Languages’ (ESOL) classes were all flagged as concerns for learners in some centres. Suggestions for improvements included greater course diversity at local centres and better digital support for learners.

Ciaran Kennedy, Community Education Facilitator for Wellbeing, Tipperary ETB said: “The National FET Learner Forum is a fantastic opportunity for Tipperary ETB FET students in many ways. It is an opportunity to look at where they are now, and it also sows the seed for future self-development. The Learner forum gives the students an opportunity to reflect on their experiences and to come together to look at how their future educational environment can be enhanced.”

The National FET Learner Forum is a collaborative effort between AONTAS, the National Adult Learning Organisation; SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority; and Education and Training Boards. This meeting was one of a series of regional meetings that will take place across the country this year. Last year, thousands of learners across Ireland shared their experience of learning through the Forum, which directly influences FET provision across the island of Ireland.

FURTHER DETAILS

If you are thinking of going back to education, you can find further information on www.aontas.com. You can also check out the range of programmes available at the Tipperary Educational Training Board https://tipperary.etb.ie/further-education/