19/03/2017
Thanks to Ballyfermot/ Chapelizod partnership for advertising with the student chronicle online.
Declan Markey is the education Co-ordinator at Ballyfermot Chapelizod Partnership and his main objective along with the staff of the other departments is to work with people, groups and the whole learning community to achieve our educational goals for the area.
The education programme provides a learner-centred service that works with a person or group to identify their educational goals and then follow the most suitable path towards achieving that goal. People engage with the Education Department with an array of educational queries. From those that need assistance with finding a course to understanding the financial supports available, or just wanting to know how they can get back into education at any level; the guidance support will ensure that person gets the appropriate information and direction they require.
Declan said " The benefits are that people feel like the Partnership is working with them to achieve what their personal goals are. It’s not about prescribing any course of action for a person. We work with people to provide them with an insight into whatever options are available to them and then support them in making the correct decision about which direction to take. The Partnership doesn’t provide full QQI accredited certificates but we assist people in accessing accredited courses and completing them".
"In regards to the educational landscape we understand the various pathways to different qualifications whether that is from basic literacy and numeracy improvement all the way to completing degrees, masters and PHD’s. We’ve worked with numerous people that have come to us with the aim of improving their reading and writing skills and before we know it these learners are starting Level 8 degrees. Once a person is motivated and they realise that when they are interested in a subject or course nothing will stop them from achieving great things".
"We collaborate with all education services and facilities. We visit numerous colleges with local school-going students and we run programmes like the Arts and Animation 4 Success programme with Louise Boughton in BCFE. The Arts/Animation 4 Success is a fantastic programme were primary school children spend one-day per week over 8 weeks working with BCFE art students in creating an exhibition of their work".
Maureen Conway, the BCFE principal currently on sabbatical with the Higher Education Authority, is one of the Board of Directors. Declan said, "Maureen has been a huge influence and supporter of the educational work of the Partnership and has helped to shape many of our key services, included the Resource Support Initiative for local student".
The Partnership works in any way it can to support local groups around issues that are relevant and meaningful to people’s lives. Just last night a collective of local disability groups called Smashing Times performed their new play in the Smock Alley Theatre, with support from our community development team. We hope the play will be on in the Ballyfermot Civic Centre too and it is a must see. And the night previously the Ballyfermot Traveller Action Project’s (BTAP) Women’s Group performed at a Dublin City Arts programme in the National Concert Hall. The women all completed the QQI level 4 Challenging Discrimination course with the support of the Partnership.
