Community
St Marys Community Adult Education celebrate 20 years
St Marys Community Adult Education celebrated 20 years in operation on Friday, May 27.
Throughout the years, St Mary’s has expanded their group significantly
By I Love Limerick correspondent Ava O’Donoghue
St Marys Community Adult Education celebrated 20 years in operation at the St Mary’s Adult Education Centre operation on Friday, May 27.
The St Marys Community Adult Education group was formed in 2002 to provide adult education to the local community.
The service provided by St Mary’s is inclusive, locally-based, accessible and affordable and responds to the needs of the community in a flexible and integrated way.
In 2005, the group were granted a license from the Sisters of Mercy for the old infant boys school on the Island Road to renovate and open as the designated adult education centre for St Mary’s. By 2006, the building was fully renovated and opened.
Throughout the years, St Mary’s has expanded their group significantly, expanding from 4 workers to 27 workers who work in various areas both within the parish and outside in 2008.
Now, St Mary’s is an Outreach QQI Campus for Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board providing the group with tutors for all their classes.
They now include a range of classes such as Social Activity Classes i.e. sewing, mosaics, exercise, art, and a literacy programme which is highlight confidential and suited to the learner’s needs. They also offer QQI Quality Assured at programmes at levels 2, 3, 4 and 5.
The group now provide pathways to lifelong learning for all our learners to reach their full potential with the support of statutory and non-statutory organisations.
They also support local organisations and the community by employing local people in people in training and development roles in the area through the best practice management of their Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection funded Community Employment Scheme.
Congratulations to St Mary’s for 20 years in operation, we’re looking forward to the next 20!
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For more information on St Marys Community Adult Education, go HERE