Ireland’s Learning Poor: Adult Educational Disadvantage and Cross-border Co-operation

A study of the needs of the more than a million people on the island who left school with few or no qualifications by Dr Mark Morgan of St. Patrick’s College and the Educational Research Centre, Drumcondra, and Mr Paul Mc Gill, formerly education correspondent of the Belfast Telegraph.

They conclude that current policies in both jurisdictions, by concentrating on largely middle-class school leavers, are “far removed from the vision of lifelong learning, where people of all ages and social classes drop in and out of education and training on an equal basis.”

Among the report’s recommendations are:

• Cross-border adult education research and tutor training programmes with an emphasis on the use of ICT
• A North/South fund to encourage co-operation between Northern further education colleges and Southern institutes of technology, with special provisions for community education groups.
• A framework to develop the UK University for Industry learndirect programme in the South, with joint learning centres along the border.

See press release and final report [1.6 mb].