Innovator: Joan McSweeney - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joan-mcsweeney-86167527/
Organisation: Cork ETB, Fermoy
Description of the practice:
This practice was developed initially with one young male learner who was referred to the Further Education and Training Guidance Counsellor by an Apprenticeship services colleague as he did not have the required five Junior Certificate passes to be eligible to register as an apprentice. He had sourced an employer who was willing to give him the time to complete an equivalent qualification. The Guidance Counsellor collaborated with her resource worker colleague who organises adult literacy classes in the centre and the apprenticeship services colleague to explore how we might meet this learner’s need.
Based on SOLAS’s information on equivalent qualification options, the QQI Level 3 pathway was chosen as it allowed for recognition of the two Junior Certificate passes he had achieved through exemptions https://www.qqi.ie/sites/default/files/2021-12/exemptions.pdf However there is a five year limit on getting exemptions so there was a six-month time frame to complete his full QQI Level 3 Employability Skills Award 3M0935 An additional challenge was that not all remaining components required could be offered through local literacy classes in this time frame.
The learner started some in-centre QQI L3 components through classes that were available with support from tutors. When he was comfortable with this, he was introduced to Learn with NALA online courses with support from the resource worker in the centre. This blended learning approach enabled him to successfully achieve his QQI L3 Award within the tight time frame and he is now registered as a Mechanical Automation and Maintenance Fitting (MAMF) apprentice.
The guidance counsellor liaised with Tipperary ETB to support a second young man in a similar situation. He was able to gain three exemptions based on his Junior Certificate results which is equivalent to half of the credits required to achieve his QQI Level 3 General Learning Award 3M0874 . He was supported to achieve this through blended learning using Microsoft TEAMS with a tutor working on a one-to-one basis with him and access to a laptop. He is now registered as a Metal Fabricator Apprentice.
More details on this process together with feedback from the two learners and some colleagues is available at AontasTheAdultLearner2024_web.pdf pp.183-194.
A further four young men are now going through this process in the centre and attend some classes together. Some of these young men were referred by their peers. The centre staff have become more competent in using the Learn with NALA online courses and have found it beneficial for engaging amongst others, neurodiverse learners.
This person-centred pathway is enabling young male early school leavers to re-engage with education in a positive way, experience success in education and in turn access employment as apprentices. This would not be possible firstly without the young men’s courage in re-engaging with education. Secondly, without the in-depth support, collaboration and innovation of Further Education and Training colleagues working together ‘ensuring responsive and flexible learning pathways that meet people’s current and future needs and ambitions’ (Adult Literacy for Life A 10-year adult literacy, numeracy and digital literacy strategy p.58).
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