Learning is the passport to success

LEARNING is the passport to success was the message that rang true at a graduation ceremony of Youthreach Programme learners held in Ennis recently.
According to Dr Sean Conlan, education officer with Clare’s Vocational Education Committee, “We now live in a new world where learning is a key passport to success”. 
“To find a good job and retain it to become more successful in today’s fast-changing world requires us all to stay in touch with the education system and return to formal learning from time to time, whether we are in a job or not,” he continued.
The Youthreach Programme’s aim is to provide early school leavers between the ages of 15 and 20 with the knowledge, skills and the confidence needed to take part fully in society and progress to further education, training and employment.
The programme objectives were social inclusion and progression into further education and training opportunities.
A pillar of Youthreach was local management which enhanced responses to local social, economic and cultural environments and needs.
“This is the context for Youthreach nationally. Here in Ennis, the Youthreach programme has many advantages to the location including being part of the biggest and most active adult education centre in the county. Here adults take the step back into education and take part in various learning programmes, underlining the message that education is now a lifelong journey,” Dr Conlan said.
The night included the presentation of the centre’s development plan for 2011-2014 to the Vocational Education Committee along with the formal launch of a promotional DVD on the centre.
Dermot Stokes, national co-ordinator of Youthreach for the Department of Education and Skills attended the event and gave an overview of the Youthreach Programme.
Other speakers were Teresa McLoughlin, facilitator of the centre development plan; Breda O’Driscoll, who explained a tourist-awareness module supported by Fáilte Ireland now in its second year and Aobhán Haverty, head of the County Adult and Community Education Service of the Vocational EducationCommittee.
In addition to the presentation of certificates to graduating and current learners, special awards were given to Dan Hassett, Barefield, as student of the year and to Ghana-born Tracy Dsane for outstanding past student.
Ennis Youthreach co-ordinator Eddie Keane, who is also a staff representative on County Clare Vocational Education Committee, presided at the function.
He emphasised that many individuals and organisations, by their participation in the preparation and creation of the development plan, enabled the centre to develop what would hopefully be a very worthwhile working document.