Locals attend conference highlighting learner voice in democracy

Ireland’s Education & Training Boards (ETBs) including Louth & Meath ETB - collectively the largest providers of education and training in the country- have committed to working with the Electoral Commission to encourage voter participation, and to challenge all political parties to tackle inequality in the upcoming general election and new programme for government.

The pledge was made to over 200 delegates attending the Education & Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) Annual conference entitled ‘Hear my Voice: The learner in Education & Citizenship’, held in Wexford (25-26 Sept].

Art O’Leary, CEO of An Coimisiún Toghcháin said: “We know that of those citizens who didn’t vote in the recent local elections, 17% said it was because they didn’t know who to vote for, 14% said it was because they weren’t interested in politics, and 10% said their vote didn’t matter.

“These are the people that as Ireland’s electoral commission we need to win over. With a footprint in every town, city and county across primary, post primary and Further Education & Training, ETBs are critical to the development and delivery of our voter education programme.”

“Paddy Lavelle, General Secretary of ETBI said: “We’ll be delighted to work with the Electoral Commission in the run up to the general election and beyond to ensure all voices are heard. We’ll also be asking all political representatives to prioritise ETBs in their party manifestos and the next programme for government. We want to see more multi-denominational Community National Schools, an increased deputy principal allocation for disadvantaged schools, and appropriate funding for the essential further education, training and youth services our ETBs provide.”

Over two days, the conference showcased the importance of learner voice in education, democracy and citizenship with ETB learners, past and present playing a key role including former ETB Learner and activist Latisha McCrudden who added her support: “My ETB equipped me with the skills to engage with democracy and politics. I want to make a difference for underrepresented people in this country and hope to run in the 2029 local elections.”