Gaeilge
Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) has appointed Adele McElhinney as an Adult Literacy Organiser (with Initial Responsibility for Coordinating Regional Literacy) to its Further Education and Training (FET) Service.
The new post has been created by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in response to the launch earlier this year of Adult Literacy for Life (ALL), the national ten year adult literacy, numeracy, and digital literacy strategy.
The role will enhance Donegal ETB’s responsive approach of offering increased learning and support opportunities for a rapidly changing world by harnessing the resources already in place to help adult literacy, numeracy and digital literacy and make it easier for those with unmet literacy needs to take the next step.
Originally from Donegal Town, Adele has worked with Donegal ETB as an Adult Literacy Organiser in South Donegal since 2005. She holds a B.A. in English and Human Development, a Higher Diploma in Adult and Community Education and more recently a Level 8 qualification in Technology Enhanced Learning. Prior to this she was a tutor with the ETB’s FET Service teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), Information Technology and Skills for Work courses.
Speaking about her new appointment, Adele said, “I am passionate about helping adults to reach their full potential in accessing FET programmes, no matter what their starting point is. This post will build a coalition from representatives across all sectors to develop a literacy action plan for the county. I’m excited to build this network and look forward to meeting new communities to ensure everyone has the opportunity to build their skills in literacy, numeracy and their digital capabilities.”
In congratulating Adele on her appointment, Donegal ETB’s Director of Further Education and Training Ciaran O’Brien said, “This role is a key component of the national Adult Literacy for Life Strategy. Based within Donegal ETB’s FET Service, Adele will focus on working with stakeholders at a local level, as well as colleagues across the education, health, community development and local government supports and services to embed a systems-based approach to addressing unmet literacy needs.”
The ALL strategy sets out a range of commitments and actions across four pillars to ensure people can understand their needs and where to go to meet them; that they can access all of the learning and support they need; that the learning and support available can expand to meet this massive challenge; and that people and communities are empowered to make a real difference to their lives.
Adele takes up her appointment in October and will be based in Donegal ETB’s Training Centre in Ballyraine, Letterkenny. She can be contacted at the centre by calling 074 91 20500 or emailing adelemcelhinney@donegaletb.ie.