ETBI-News-Summer-2016-web

AEOA Reunion – An Opportunity to
Celebrate the Past and Consider the Future
By Mary Walsh, Adult Education Officer WWETB, President AEOA
On the evening of April 27th
2016, sixty-five Adult Education
Officers past and present were
joined by ETBI President Pat Gilmore
and Clare McMahon representing ETBI,
in the Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone. This
reunion dinner was a celebration of the
work of the Adult Education Officers
(AEOs) who served in the Vocational
Education Committees since 1979,
and now in the Education and Training
Boards since 2013.
The Adult Education Officers
Association (AEOA) was formed
on 25th February 1980, in Sligo,
following the first in-service Induction
Seminar, arranged by IVEA and the
Association of CEOs in association
with the Department of Education.
Since that induction, the AEOA
members have developed the adult
education service into the significant
structure it is today. This success is
down to the hard work and dedication
of the many AEOs who served over
those years, their competencies,
their energies, their vision and their
empathy with their staff and learners.
When Jack McCann, Chairman of
IVEA, and Edward Gibson, President
of the CEOs’ Association, encouraged
the newly appointed AEOs to form
a professional association for
themselves, little did they know how
far that association would come.
From very small beginnings, AEOA
grew to over 50 members and then fell
dramatically during two moratoria, until
this year when some new recruits joined
the ranks. From driving round rural
Ireland with “SuperSers” in the boots
of cars to engage with communities in
learning, the AEOs have driven the FET
service to where it is now.
Further Education and Training
services work strategically with
national and regional programmes,
linking with employers and
communities throughout Ireland, and
providing programmes from QQI levels
1 to 6 over six days and nights every
week. That flexibility to offer a service
14 hours a day over six days has
been an integral part of the success
and the transformation of the Further
Education and Training landscape. In
her speech, Mary Walsh, President of
AEOA, acknowledged the part played
by those pioneering AEOs in making
themselves available at times that
were normally outside the education
“box” and facilitating outreach
learning, distance learning and
communities of practice.
Among those present on the night
was AEO Jim Marsden, who ran
the first pilot programme in Adult
Education in Co Meath. It was noted,
“Had Jim not made a success of that
pilot, the current Further Education
and Training service as we know
it, might not be here today.” In
recognition of Jim’s pioneering work,
AEOA President Mary Walsh invited
him to cut the celebration cake –
success is always sweet!
In the time-honoured tradition of
AEOA, the night consisted of indepth
philosophical and educational
discussion led by Ted Fleming
and Helen Keogh, interspersed
by recitation and song led by the
redoubtable Liam Bane and Michael
Fiona Maloney, ETBI/Cavan-Monaghan ETB, Des Murtagh retired
AEO Co Dublin VEC/KWETB, Marian Duffy retired AEO KC ETB,
Nuala Glanton Cork ETB
Mary Walsh,
President AEOA,
welcoming the
guests at the
AEOA Reunion
60 ETBI issue 3 – 2016 Section 2 | news