Newsletter

STUDENT AND LEARNER SUCCESS | STEAM COMMUNITY AND SUSTAINABILITY

TEACHING AND LEARNING | WELLBEING www.kerryetb.ie

2021 – 2022

Our Mission

To create and promote 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.

Abbreviations / Giorrúcháin

ABE Adult Basic Education

BTEI Back to Education Initiative

CC Community College

CEO Chief Executive Officer

CNS Community National School

CS Comprehensive School

ETB Education and Training Board

ETBI Education and Training Board Ireland

FET Further Education and Training

FETCH Further Education and Training Course Hub

LCA Leaving Certificate Applied

MTU Munster Technological University

OETC Outdoor Education and Training Centre

PDST Professional Development Service for Teachers

RTÉ Raidió Teilifís Éireann

SNP Scoil Naisíunta Pobail

TEL Technology Enhanced Learning

VTOS Vocational Training Opportunity Scheme

YSI Young Social Innovators

Forward Colm Mc Evoy Chief Executive Officer

Respect

I am delighted to welcome you to our 2022 newsletter. The annual newsletter is a very important publication for the organisation, providing us with an opportunity to reflect on the past year with its many developments, achievements and indeed challenges.

The easing of many of the COVID-19-driven public health measures in January 22nd 2022, allowed us as an organisation, to move back to largely prepandemic working. This was a welcome transition following almost two years of living and working in an environment shaped by uncertainty.

The manner in which staff and students/learners responded to the challenges presented by the pandemic since March 2020 was commendable, and the organisation is very proud of the resilience shown by all.

Reading through this newsletter, you will appreciate that 2022 was a very busy year for the organisation. Across our schools/ colleges/campuses and offices, staff were extremely active in progressing the work of the organisation, meeting the needs of students/ learners. The vibrancy and richness of the work across the organisation is captured in the various articles and reflective of our mission statement –To create and promote 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.

Particularly noteworthy in 2022 was:

1. the transition to new organisational financial systems

2. record levels of learner engagement with FET services, with the c.14,000 beneficiaries exceeding pre-pandemic levels

3. the continued expansion of school enrolments to exceed 3000 full-time students for the first time

4. the advancement of the significant capital projects work programme, in particular Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí and Listellick National School

5. the establishment of the Regional Education and Language Team (REALT) and the excellent work of staff across the organisation in responding to the education and training needs of the Ukrainian community in Co. Kerry.

In 2022, work was progressed in compiling the new five-year strategy statement (2023-2027) for the organisation. The new strategy is scheduled to be published in quarter two of 2023. A key learning over the past five years has been the need for the organisation to remain agile and capable of responding to unplanned events, and this learning has informed our new strategy.

The success of the organisations is the sum of our individual efforts. The work and commitment throughout 2022 of the Directors, Management teams and staff across the organisation is really appreciated and underpins everything we do. Míle buíochas daoibh.

A particular word of thanks the to the ETB Board members, Boards of Management, Governance Boards, Finance Committee, Audit and Risk Committee, the Parents Forum and Associations and Student Forum for their continued support throughout 2022.

I wish all our students/learners engaging in our education and training courses across the organisation continued success.

A sincere thank you to all involved in compiling and publishing the 2022 newsletter.

Táimid ag súil leis an bhliain le teacht, ní neart go cur le chéile.

Colm Mc Evoy Chief Executive Officer