Longford women’s group combatting regional education inequalities

Longford Women’s Link have had a significant input into a report on adult education in Ireland.
Longford Women’s Link, the social enterprise enabling women in Longford to achieve their full social and economic potential, showcased the impact of their project at the annual Adult Education Summit where AONTAS launched the 2023 ‘Learners’ Voices Across Ireland’ Report.

Capturing the experiences of over 3,000 Further Education and Training learners throughout the 2022/23 academic year, the ‘Learners’ Voices Across Ireland’ Report collates examples of best practice and areas for improvement across the Education and Training Board network.

Further Education and Training (FET) learners from Longford and across Ireland participated in focus groups and surveys to inform the research report which highlights overwhelmingly positive experiences of FET. However, the report also reveals regional disparities in learning experiences due to inequalities in public transport, facilities, and inclusion and mental health supports.

Longford Women’s Link (LDL) provide support for adult learners to overcome these barriers to education and lifelong learning.
Providing services such as childcare, education and training, community employment and counselling services, LDL enables women to access programmes which have real benefits for their families and wider community.
Speaking at the event, CEO of AONTAS Dearbháil Lawless said: “There are two principal narratives emerging from this year’s report – that education has a hugely transformative impact on learners’ lives, particularly those returning to education later in life – and that issues around local infrastructure and facilities are creating inequalities and barriers for learners across the country to access, or take full advantage of, those transformative experiences.

“For many people in Longford and across Ireland, particularly those from under-resourced communities and groups that face the greatest challenges in accessing quality education, crossing the threshold of a college or training centre is a huge step, and for many even getting to the front door is proving to be the biggest barrier.

Groups like Longford Women’s Link provide an invaluable service, enabling them to access education and training opportunities that otherwise would be out of their reach.”
The 2023 Learners’ Voices Across Ireland Report is available at www.aontas.com