This week is National Adult Learning week and we went along to Portarlington Adult Education Centre to hear about the courses provided there – and from the students taking part in them.
The centre is dedicated to providing adults with further or second chance education and training opportunities. Among the full and part-time courses provided are: Accounting Technician; Childcare; Healthcare; Office Administration and Business Management.
Portarlington Further Education & Training Centre provides a range of QQI certified morning and afternoon classes to adults who wish to return to education on a Part-time or Full-time under the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS).
Classes are provided in a friendly and supportive environment with emphasis placed on encouraging adults to learn in a way, and at a pace, that they are comfortable with. Learners may combine modules in ways that best suit their needs and situation.
Among the supports offered by Portarlington Further Education are: childcare service; subsidised meals; free car park; guidance service; free books (VTOS students only); free tuition.
National Learning Week
The centre is once again is celebrating the AONTAS Nation Adult Learners Festival week by hosting a number of events through the week.
This week the learners were motivated after participating in a seminar titled ‘Education and ME- Taking Control of My Future’, presented by MS Melanie Guing Ryan of Midlands Business Training.
Steven Miller of LaoisToday recorded discussions with learners from across the programmes given their experiences from returning to education and reasons for upskilling, so that their journies might be of help to people who might be thinking of taking the same course of action next September.
Margret Morrin, is the centre manager, she supports the AONTAS mission statement by promoting for the right of all adults in Ireland to quality learning throughout their lives and to make known the value and benefits of lifelong learning.
Morrin went on to say “that one of the main barriers to life long learning is the lack of childcare supports” one of the support in Portarlington FETC is the provision of childcare supports while students are attending the programmes.
The main programme in the centre is the VTOS programme that allows for people who are in receipt of a social welfare payment to attend the centre subject to course criteria.
Students who wish to study on a part-time basis can apply for a course in the centre. Portarlington FETC welcomes the new training healthcare support programme that is operating here in the centre until next September.
During this week we welcome you to call to the centre and have a chat with the teachers and students and pick up an application form. You can follow us on facebook page or check out our programmes on www.portarlingtonaec.ie. On Thursday, April 12, we welcome you to our Open morning in the centre.
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