Ireland’s sixteen Education and Training Boards respond to the needs of learners during Covid-19
Date: Tuesday 7 April 2020
Education and Training Boards across Ireland are implementing important measures to meet the challenges arising from Covid-19 and to ensure continuity of education and training for approximately 450,000 students and learners across the state.
The ETB sector acknowledges the challenges associated with this pandemic, and the impact felt by students, learners, parents and staff alike. All 16 ETBs have and will continue to engage in contingency planning for Schools and Further Education and Training provision.
A survey of ETBs conducted in late March by Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) has confirmed that a variety of measures have been put in place to respond in an agile and flexible way to support its teaching and learning community. ETB staff have been exceptional in terms of their receptiveness and adaptability in providing tuition and support to learners via a variety of means.
The survey found that innovative and positive steps have been taken by ETBs to:
· Quickly adopt to online platforms, tools and technologies
· Support staff and tutors with equipment, upskilling and professional development
· Provide alternatives to technological solutions, including physical resource packs delivered by post
· Facilitate online meetings, which provide for regular updates and responsive feedback
· Assist parents and learners by ensuring Guidance staff are available to support their wellbeing
· Enable remote working practices to ensure continuity for essential services for all ETBs.
The ETB sector has agreed guiding principles for alternative assessment methods for its Further Education and Training programmes, which will be used at ETB level. Learners will continue to be communicated with regularly and clarification provided as soon as practicable. Learners requiring assistance will be supported by their ETB as required.
Education and Training Boards Ireland, which represents Ireland’s sixteen Education & Training Boards, is also actively responding to the needs of its member ETBs. In response to a survey of immediate support needs of the member ETBs, ETBI has taken a number of steps, including: establishing a dedicated Covid-19 communication channel; facilitating all essential sectoral meetings online; and leading the engagement with the Department of Education and Skills and other agencies to provide essential guidance and clarification.
Nessa White, General Secretary of Education and Training Boards Ireland said “I would like to express my deepest appreciation to all of our staff and students, who have done everything in their power to adapt to these challenging circumstances. I am very proud that we have been able to ensure the continuity of the education of our students and learners. I would ask all learners and ETB staff members to ensure that they adhere to Government guidelines in place during this period. I have no doubt that we will overcome this difficult period, and that in the meantime our community of learners will be provided with the education and support they deserve".
Preasráiteas
Freagra tugtha ag 16 Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna na hÉireann ar riachtanais foghlaimeoirí le linn Covid-19
Dáta: Dé Mairt an 7 Aibreán 2020
Tá Boird Oideachais agus Oiliúna ar fud na hÉireann ag cur bearta tábhachtacha i bhfeidhm le dul i ngleic leis na dúshláin atá tagtha chun cinn de bharr Covid-19 agus lena chinntiú go mbeidh leanúnachas ann i dtaobh oideachais agus oiliúna do thuairim is 450,000 dalta agus foghlaimeoir ar fud an stáit.
Tuigeann earnáil na BOO na dúshláin a bhaineann leis an bpaindéim seo, agus an tionchar atá aici ar dhaltaí, foghlaimeoirí, tuismitheoirí agus an fhoireann araon. Tá gach ceann den 16 BOO i mbun pleanáil theagmhasach do Scoileanna agus don soláthar Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna agus leanfar leis sin. Tá sé deimhnithe le suirbhé a rinneadh ar BOOnna ag deireadh mhí Márta go bhfuil réimse beart curtha i bhfeidhm chun freagra a thabhairt ar bhealach sofhreagrúil agus solúbtha chun tacú leis an bpobal teagaisc agus foghlama atá againn. Bhí an fhoireann BOO thar barr i dtaobh chomh maith is a ndeachaigh siad i gcleachtadh ar theagasc agus tacaíocht a chur ar fáil d'fhoghlaimeoirí trí réimse bealaí agus glacadh leo.
Fuarthas amach tríd an suirbhé go raibh céimeanna nuálacha agus dearfacha glactha ag BOOnna chun:
· Dul i gcleachtadh go tapa ar ardáin, uirlisí agus teicneolaíochtaí ar líne
· Tacaíocht a chur ar fáil don fhoireann agus do theagascóirí i ndáil le trealamh, uas-sciliú agus forbairt ghairmiúil
· Bealaí eile a chur ar fáil i ndáil le réitigh theicneolaíochta, lena n-áirítear pacáistí acmhainní fisiciúla a chur ar an bpost
· Cruinnithe ar líne a éascú, trína gcuirtear an nuacht is déanaí agus aiseolas freagrúil ar fáil go rialta
· Cuidiú le tuismitheoirí agus foghlaimeoirí trína chinntiú go bhfuil an fhoireann Threorach ar fáil chun tacú lena bhfolláine
· Cleachtais chianoibre a chumasú lena chinntiú go mbeifear ábalta leanúint le seirbhísí riachtanacha gach BOO.
Mar fhreagairt ar an riachtanas atá ann úsáid a bhaint as modhanna eile measúnaithe dár gcláir Bhreisoideachais agus Oiliúna tá treoirphrionsabail comhaontaithe ag earnáil na BOO ar bhealaí eile measúnaithe agus déanfar iad a úsáid ag leibhéal BOO. Leanfar de chumarsáid rialta a dhéanamh le foghlaimeoirí agus cuirfear soiléiriú ar fáil chomh luath is atá praiticiúil. Gheobhaidh foghlaimeoirí a bhfuil cúnamh uatha tacaíocht óna BOO de réir mar a bheidh ag teastáil.
Tá Boird Oideachais agus Oiliúna Éireann (BOOÉ), a dhéanann ionadaíocht ar 16 Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna na hÉireann, ag freagairt go gníomhach do riachtanais ár mbaill BOO. Mar fhreagra ar shuirbhé ar riachtanais tacaíochta práinneacha BOO, tá cainéal cumarsáide tiomnaithe Covid-19 bunaithe ag an BOOÉ, ag éascú gach cruinniú earnála riachtanach ar líne agus chun tosaigh maidir leis an gcumarsáid leis an Roinn Oideachais agus Scileanna agus le gníomhaireachtaí eile chun an treoir agus soiléiriú riachtanach a chur ar fáil.
Dúirt Nessa White, Ard-Rúnaí Bhoird Oideachais agus Oiliúna Éireann “Ba mhaith liom buíochas ó chroí a ghabháil lenár bhfoireann agus daltaí ar fad, a bhfuil gach is féidir leo a dhéanamh déanta acu le dul in oiriúint do na cúinsí dúshlánacha seo. Tá mé fíorbhródúil go rabhamar ábalta
leanúnachas a chinntiú i dtaobh oideachais de dár daltaí agus foghlaimeoirí. Iarraim ar gach foghlaimeoir agus ball foirne na BOO a chinntiú go bhfuil siad ag cloí leis na treoirlínte atá curtha i bhfeidhm ag an Rialtas i rith na tréimhse seo. Níl aon amhras orm ach go dtiocfaimid tríd an tréimhse dheacair seo, agus go gcuirfear an t-oideachas, an oiliúint agus an tacaíocht atá tuillte ag an bpobal foghlaimeoirí atá againn idir an dá linn".