Adult learning hit by ban on hiring

A BAN on public service recruitment is worsening the crisis facing people seeking adult education services, it was claimed yesterday.

AONTAS, the national adult learning organisation, is receiving hundreds of calls a month from people on waiting lists for courses. But, it says, problems are increased by the inability of Vocational Education Committees (VECs) to fill vacancies when adult education officers, guidance counsellors and co-ordinators of back-to-education programmes retire or take extended leave.

“The moratorium on staff has had an effect on the service as a large proportion of staff is female and those on maternity leave are not replaced and there is less capacity at a time when it is needed most,” AONTAS director, Berni Brady, said.