Bid to boost literacy among early school leavers
Over €2m will be spent helping early school-leavers who are suffering from literacy problems, it was confirmed today.
The funds were set aside for special education needs initiatives at Youthreach centres after it was identified a significant proportion of students attending have learning issues, low levels of literacy and numeracy problems.
Minister for Education Mary Hanafin said: “Young people enrolled in Youthreach centres throughout the country need additional supports to enable them to develop skills which will ensure they can reach their full potential, socially, personally and educationally.
“The funding being made available now to Youthreach will enable a mix of experts such as counsellors, mentors and resource personnel work with young people through a team approach, to address the special educational needs of students in the centres.”
Sile de Valera, Minister of State at the Department, said the initiative was designed to aid the special educational needs of students aged between 15 and 20 years of age involved in 20 Youthreach programmes.
“The majority of these students have the kinds of problems that are associated with social exclusion. They may have left school early without formal qualifications. The practical supports for these young students with special educational needs that are available in mainstream post-primary schools do not transfer to Youthreach, however this new proposal will address the special educational needs of the Youthreach student,” Ms de Valera said.
Around 3,250 students are enrolled in 90 Youthreach centres around the country. The centres, managed by the Vocational Educational Committees, target young people aged 15-20 years who may have left mainstream education without completing their Junior Certificate or have achieved less than five ’D’ grades in that exam.
The minister said the initiative would be run in 20 centres initially but there were plans to extend it to all Youthreach programmes.
The centres taking part include facilities in Donegal, Clare, Cork, Dublin city centre, Galway, Limerick, Tralee, Naas, Sligo, New Ross and Arklow.
The centres involved will get 1,500 additional hours in staffing resources to help youths with special educational needs under the programme.
Ms Hanafin said: “Firstly it will allow the centres to introduce practices to assess the needs of each particular student, the development of individual education plans (IEPs), establishment of a mentoring system and engagement in inter-agency work.
“It will allow for the necessary supports in Youthreach centres to enable their students to fulfil their potential and gain the knowledge, skills, competence and confidence to participate as fully in society and to progress on to employment or further education when they have completed their time in the Youthreach programme.”
Ms de Valera said training and professional support would also be made available to the Youthreach staff.
