Mullingar Senior Education and Training Centre

O'Growney Drive
Mullingar, Co. Westmeath.
Tel 044- 9347217
Fax 044 9347391
Email: tonyjbarry@eircom.net

Director: Tony Barry

Centre Profile
Mullingar Education and Training Centre provide a full-time programme including personal development in addition to basic education and specific skills. The centre offers programmes to suit the needs of the individual learning plan of the participants. Each participant receives an allowance, dependant upon attendance. The centre promotes ethnic and cultural awareness. A childcare allowance is provided, without which, many could not attend. The centre is funded by NDP and part financed by the EU.

Mission Statement
Mullingar Senior Education and Training Centre aims to encourage all participants to explore and develop their full potential, to create a healthy and safe environment so that participants and staff can all enjoy purposeful learning and personal growth.

Aims

• To provide the best quality education to its participants offering a comprehensive educational programme that is participant based.
  
• To promote integration both professional and social between Traveller and settled communities.
  
• To constantly develop curriculum offering as many choices and sources of accreditation as is practicable.
  
• To ensure that all staff have a commitment to promoting and understanding Traveller Culture.
  
• To create a healthy and safe environment so that all participants and staff can enjoy purposeful learning and personal growth.
  

Operating Process
To provide opportunities for participants to learn and to use skills required while making full use of resources that are provided by the staff and the centre.

History
Mullingar Senior Traveller Training Centre was started by Mullingar Traveller Action Group. It was formed because of the need for a support group around Traveller issues for Traveller women in the Mullingar area. Westmeath VEC, FAS, and ADM then provided follow on courses. The courses were organised by Julie Mongan and Caroline Nevin as part of their work on the Adult Education Board EC Scheme in spring 1998.

Centre Profile
Mullingar Education and Training Centre provide a full-time programme including personal development in addition to basic education and specific skills. The centre offers programmes to suit the needs of the individual learning plan of the participants. Each participant receives an allowance, dependant upon attendance. The centre promotes ethnic and cultural awareness. A childcare allowance is provided, without which many could not attend. The centre is funded by NDP and part financed by the EU.

Premises
In January 2006 the centre was relocated to O'Growney Drive. Previously classes were split between two centres located in Austin Friar Street and Bishopgate Street and students moved between these centres for classes. Staff and students are very pleased to have a custom designed building for classes. It has raised the profile of the centre locally and added to the pride the participants have in their centre.

Leaving Certificate Applied
In June 2006 twelve traveller women completed the Leaving Certificate Applied. They are the first travellers who are known to have achieved such certification in Mullingar. None had attended secondary school so this achievement is remarkable. It was recognised at national level in both radio and press.
It is hoped that in this way our centre provides not just equality of opportunities but also equality of outcome for members of our local traveller community. Following the success of the 12 women who completed their Leaving Cert Applied Certificate in June 2006, we have a further 7 participants following this programme. The current LCA participants have completed the first year of this programme and are looking forward to completing the LCA in June 2008.

MSETC is funded by the Department of Education & Science and assisted by European Social Fund under the National Development Plan 2000-2006