Conferences plan to show learning should never stop

TWO major education conferences will be held later this year as part of the Irish contribution to the European Year of Lifelong Learning, which was launched by the Minister for Education yesterday.

There is a budget of Pounds 60,000 to promote public awareness and stimulate debate on the role of education and training within the EU throughout the year.received by Teastas, the national certification authority, which is organising the year here.

A national conference on lifelong learning will take place in June, followed by a European wide conference to be held in Dublin in December, at the end of the Irish EU presidency.

Ms Breathnach said yesterday that lifelong learning must become a reality for everyone. "We must seek to change the mindset surrounding traditional education and training approaches and to encourage the provision and use of more open and flexible learning methods on an ongoing basis by all."

The Minister acknowledged that the funding available was modest, but the creation of awareness and stimulation of debate on lifelong learning was not contingent on large amounts of money, she said.

The Minister for Enterprise and Employment, Mr Bruton, said the lifelong learning was not simply a matter of personal development; it was of crucial importance to the economy. "People cannot allow their own human capital to depreciate and go to scrap value," he warned.