A national programme in computer training skills, a new statutory agency to direct policy and a £30 million mature student programme for the third-level sector are among key recommendations of the Government's White Paper on Adult Education, to be published shortly.
According to a detailed draft, seen by The Irish Times, which has been circulated among Government Departments, the White Paper also proposes the establishment of a new task force on educational broadcasting in association with RTE; the abolition of the rule which obliged schools and other institutions to ensure that adult education courses were self-financing; and seed funding of £160,000 for most schools which offer night and adult education courses.
The Minister of State for Education, Mr Willie O'Dea, has responsibility for the adult education sector.
In the draft White Paper, the Government says it regards the establishment of the first national training programme in information technology as an essential element in the work of building a national infrastructure for adult education.
The courses, which will be free to welfare recipients and medical card-holders and which will attract a modest fee from all others, will range from basic IT training to more advanced programmes.
The training programmes will lead to a diploma and certification which will be recognised by the National Council for Education Awards. Financial support will also be given to schools and other adult education providers to maintain and upgrade IT facilities for use within this national programme.
The new statutory agency, the National Adult Learning Council, will frame and implement an extensive adult education programme. It will also monitor the performance of newly established local adult learning councils which will run adult education at local level. These councils will perform the task now often assigned to the adult education boards of vocational education committees (VECs) in the 38 VEC areas throughout the State.
At one stage, it appeared that the Government was poised to abolish the VEC adult education structure and replace it at a cost of more than £5 million with the new local councils. The plan now is to integrate the administration and staff used by the VECs in the new local learning councils.
It is expected that £30 million will be set aside by Government for the new higher education mature student programme. To secure its share of this fund, third-level institutions will be required to demonstrate the progress made in attracting participation by mature students.
According to the draft, they will have to show how adult education has become part of their mainstream education provision.
The funding will be used to support courses which are flexible and attractive to mature students. The paper lays stress on the need for the third-level sector to provide induction and/or foundation courses for those returning, often after a long absence from the classroom.
The White Paper also promises a wide range of other financial assistance for schools/colleges providing adult education. Under its proposals, a director of adult education can be appointed, and heating, lighting and caretaker costs will also be met by the Government.
The Government, according to the draft, has also decided to reconstitute the National Distance Education Council as a sub-committee of the National Adult Learning Council.
Despite its excellent work, the draft says, its location within institutions (DCU in north Dublin) has meant that others have been reluctant to take the initiative with regard to distance education. The remodelled NDEC will be charged with the task of developing a plan for the development of distance education in Ireland over the next five years.
The report envisages that the NDEC will continue to be located at DCU with existing staff arrangements remaining in place.