That is the strong view of Labour local election candidate in Wexford, Joe Ryan who says it’s time for WWETB (Waterford Wexford Education & Training Board) to target Wexford for night class provision.
Mr Ryan who is a science teacher based in Wexford town says that when it comes to providing night classes WWETB scores a ‘D’ in the eyes of adults who want to learn in their spare time and it’s a case of could do better when it comes to providing for those who want to broaden their minds”.
Mr Ryan says that there is a huge untapped demand for night classes in Autumn and Spring locally however, the numbers and range provided in Wexford by the ETB are limited.
Mr Ryan said that he is enormously disappointed that despite strong political representation from Wexford district at the highest level on the ETB, Wexford town was always over looked for night class restoration and that it falls in recent years to the trade union movement through the Peoples’ College or VTOS through training to provide some night classes with their limited resources.
Mr Ryan said that as he knocks doors in the local election campaign he is asked when can night classes return?
“While education clearly has a role in improving a person’s economic prospects, it can and also help develop personal development. These are not necessarily the same thing. People in Wexford look at the range that WWETB offers in Waterford and Tramore and wonder why is that Wexford gets overlooked when it comes to life long learning? There are many people who are interested in night classes simply with a view to developing skills, learning a second language, art or pursuing a hobby. Educational Training Boards inherited the brief from VEC’s for providing night courses and should provide that wider range of learning experiences”