Parents join in the lifelong learning at Scoil Aonghusa

LIFELONG learning is something that all parents want to inspire in their children. A child’s quest for knowledge and their ability to continue their learning outside of school and onwards after formal education has ended is critical in an ever changing world.

Learning is a natural skill in life and not only the assimilation of information but the development of passion for learning, creativity, curiosity and the ability to tackle new challenges. Parents can model lifelong learning for their children, show their enthusiasm and love of learning, a parent’s excitement for learning can be infectious to their child.

Some of the Scoil Aonghusa parents have decided to do just that by letting their children see them learning new things in adult classes at Scoil Aonghusa this year. One of the Scoil Aonghusa parents, Martina Dunlea, who is currently enrolled in the classes commented: “I am enjoying learning in the classes, any information is of benefit to us and our children”.

Cork Education and Training Board (CETB) have funded the ‘ The Family Learning Project’ which will run for two hours each Tuesday for six weeks. The goals of the programme are to: Encourage parents to become involved in their child’s education at an early age, foster the notion of lifelong learning, help parents develop strategies for extending their children’s emergent literacy and numeracy skills

Marian Quirke, Family Learning Project tutor at CETB, recommends the programme and highlights the importance of parents communicating with their children. Some of the topics Marian will be covering will be: parents as first teachers, home literacy activities and helping children with their homework, healthy eating/exercise/nutrition/sleep for children, confidence building and self esteem building, visit from MABS (Money, Advice and Budgeting Service), importance of communicating with children and internet and computer classes