Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board (WWETB), held their annual Adult Education Service Awards in the Tower Hotel on Friday 21st September 2018. Approximately four hundred and eighty learners achieved Component Awards and Major Awards at Levels 2 – 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications. These students had accessed provision on a part-time basis in both the Adult Education Centre in Railway Square and in Ozanam Street as well as a number of outreach centres throughout the city. Awards were presented by Counsellor Declan Doocey, Mayor of Waterford City & County Council who commended the achievements of the students and spoke eloquently about the immense benefits of returning to education at any stage of life. He emphasised the importance of Adult & Further Education to the whole community including the many new communities that have made Waterford their home in recent years.
Joann Power who manages the Adult Education Centre in Railway Square recognised the myriad barriers to accessing adult education and how the students had overcome their own particular difficulties. She also recognised the value of education from an individual, family and community perspective. The Centre in Railway Square offers a variety of courses and programmes that can be accessed at any time of the year so the message from Joann is; ‘call in for a chat, we will look at your individual needs’.
The Back to Education Initiative (BTEI), managed by Angi Meegan, provides opportunities for adults to return to education, on a part-time basis, and gain QQI qualifications. Programme development is on-going and aims to be responsive to changing needs in the local area so the range of courses may change from year to year. Angi was delighted to note how many learners are progressing through their education from those first tentative steps, calling in for a chat, all the way to achieving Major Awards at Level 5 or 6 that provide a gateway to their career. You can find Angi in the Adult Education Centre in Ozanam Street.
The English Language Programme has been running in Waterford for the last 15 years. The Programme offers assistance in three ways:
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On completion of the programme learners’ progress to Further and Higher Education courses and/or access employment. Both Adult Education Centres provide a variety of levels in English Language within the centres, in schools and the asylum seeker hostels throughout the City of Waterford. Learners of English as a Second Language can progress from QQI level 1 to 5 over a number of years. The aim of the programme is social and cultural integration, access to the Irish work force, promotion in the work place, access to further and higher education courses, helping with their children’s homework, enabling confidence in using the language and providing a sense of achievement.
Of course, all of this is only possible with the continued dedication of all the staff in both centres who connect with each individual student. They create the climate of mutual support and encouragement, which is the ‘glue’ that binds groups together and ensures their success.
All the Awards presented on Friday are validated by QQI, the national awarding body responsible for the external quality assurance of further and higher education and training in Ireland. The dedicated and professional staff in WWETB are justly proud to be part of the learning journey of each and every recipient of an award.
Adult Education Service Awards