This article is from page 39 of the 2008-07-01 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 39 JPG
AN EXHIBITION and celebration of the work done by the many part-time students at the County Clare VEC Adult Education Centre in Scariff was mounted last week. Students who had got to grips with various craft and art forms over the last year showed what they could do.
The work by almost 40 students ranged over a wide spectrum of dis- ciplines including ceramics, textiles, stained glass and woodwork.
The opening of the exhibition was followed by a presentation of certifi- cates. The adult learners gained their skills in courses provided by the Clare Adult Basic Education Serv-
ices (CABES) as well as the Back To Education Initiative (BTEI).
Other courses offered during the year included information technol- ogy, driver theory and child care.
Mike Ryan, Back To Education Co- ordinator, said the courses were be- coming increasingly popular, and not just with early school leavers looking for a second chance at qualifications.
‘Our courses are geared to cater for people who have not got their leaving cert, but there’s a wide range which attracts people who may already have that qualification,” he said.
Adult learners are attracted to the flexibility of the courses and the fact that they are part time but lead to a 1Kereoeg OD icere OL UE-NUNSCOrIB (OIE
This year, ten people will qualify in childcare with a FETAC qualifica- tion, eight will have computer literacy qualifications, 12 will be recognised as qualified woodworkers, nine will have a stained glass qualification and eight will graduate in textiles.
The ten people doing a ceramics course will also gain their qualifica- tions.
“People of all ages have taken ad- vantage of these courses, from peo- ple in their 20s to their 80s this year,” said Mike.
The courses are free to anyone who hasn’t done their leaving cert or to anyone on a social welfare payment, in possession of a medical card or dependants of people in receipt of
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A wide range of courses are also covered in the two main adult edu- cation centres in Killaloe, the Molua Centre and St Anne’s Community College.
Details of the courses are avail- able from the adult education centre in Scariff, from the family resource centre or the Molua Centre in Kil- laloe.