Clare VEC urged to continue promoting development education

CLARE Vocational Education Committee (VEC) has been asked to continue its promotion of development education in adult education in a practical and cost-effective way.

Speaking at the recent national conference, Learning Local, Thinking Global: Development Education in Adult Learning, organised by Clare VEC and supported by Irish Aid, held in Thomond Park, Limerick, Minister of State for Trade and Development, Deputy Jan O’Sullivan said Clare and Limerick VECs have demonstrated the relevance and potential demand for education on global issues.
Acknowledging the potential to embed development education at a national level through the wider VEC network and community groups, she urged Clare VEC to continue its work in a practical and cost-effective way.
Praising Clare VEC for organising a major national conference on the promotion of development education in adult learning, Deputy O’Sullivan pointed out that VECs are well placed to influence the experiences of adult learners and promote a particular focus on global development themes.
She said she is delighted that Irish Aid has supported the work of a number of VECs to pilot the integration of development education into the curricula and added that a national review undertaken by the Development Education Unit of her department would identify future priorities.
She stressed it is important that organisations working in development education continue to demonstrate the relevance of development education, its impact and its reach across communities.
She said Ireland cannot stand idly by with over one billion people in the world living on less than $1.25 a day, a billion people suffering from chronic hunger and over two million people dying of AIDS-related illnesses each year, the majority of them in sub-Saharan Africa.
Over 80% of Irish Aid funding is targeted to the poorest countries in sub-Saharan Africa to ensure that hundreds of thousands more people are properly nourished, their children survive and receive an education.
“Ireland is going through difficult times but I hope that we also now have an opportunity to re-assert our commitment to the values that define us as a nation. They include our commitment to social justice, to solidarity with the poor and to the principles of equality. The sense of community and of justice that will help us chart a path to recovery at home is the same sense that underpins our support for the fight against poverty and hunger internationally,” she said.