Students from across Kerry Education and Training Board
Name for photo: L/R Dáithí Laing student at Two Mile Community National School, Amy Healy student at Killarney Community College, Lia Constable Youthreach learner, Conor Agnew Kerry College learner and Judy Leen further education and training learner.
Kerry Education and Training Board (Kerry ETB) are participating in the celebrations for the anniversary of the establishment of the Education and Training Board nationally in 2013. The week-long event celebrates the growth and development of the sector.
Kerry ETB, employing over 1300 staff, provides education and opportunities for over 15,000 learners annually from their 37 locations in the county, including primary, post-primary and further education and training.
The inaugural ETB Week (27th February to 3rd March) will culminate in ETB Day on Thursday, 2nd March and will see Kerry ETB and other education and training boards around the country host events across their schools, offices and centres. The first ETB Excellence Awards in Croke Park will take place on 2nd March and will be hosted by RTE’s Ray Kennedy.
Kerry ETB are delighted to have been shortlisted for 2 awards on the day. The Bright Mind app has been shortlisted for the Equality Award. The app was developed by 2 transition-year students from Castleisland Community College. Under the Excellence in Education category, the Universal Design Learning (UDL) Project has been shortlisted. UDL is a set of principles for curriculum development that give all individuals equal opportunities to learn, including Students with Disabilities.
Complementing the national activities, Kerry ETB has a range of ETB Week events planned locally, including the Radio Kerry’s Talkabout show with Deirdre Walsh on Monday, 27th February. Students will launch the ETBI Patrons’ Framework on Ethos to Kerry ETB Board members on Tuesday, addressing how the Patrons Framework benefits their daily lives in school. There will be various activities across Kerry ETB schools during the week, including an ethos treasure hunt, art competitions and quizzes. To complete the week on Friday, ETB Day staff coffee mornings, in aid of BUMBLEance, are being organised at local schools, centres, campuses and offices.
In welcoming the week’s events, Cllr Jim Finucane, Chairperson of Kerry ETB, said, “Kerry ETB was established 10 years ago this year to provide education, training and youth work services across the county. We have since grown and currently provide education to over 15,000 annual learners, with the scope of our services expanded significantly. We now have 3 community national schools, 8 post-primary schools, 5 Kerry College Campuses, 5 further education and training centres and a very extensive range of youth, further education and training centres and community education services across the county.”
Kerry ETB CEO Colm McEvoy added, “ETB Week, led by ETBI, gives us all a chance to reflect on the development of the organisation over the past ten years. The provision of our education and training opportunities is very important. As a county-based organisation, we fully recognise the potential of our provision to enrich and change lives, create opportunities for people, and enhance our communities.
“We look forward to continuing our journey into the future. Creating and promoting the development of a lifelong learning society in Kerry. So that all who live there have access to the education and training required to fulfil their potential and to meet their personal, social, cultural, economic and civic needs.”
