This article is from page 69 of the 2010-02-23 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 69 JPG
THE latest progressive chapter in the St Joseph’s Education Centre, Gort Road, story has been written with news that a number of new courses have been introduced, in- cluding a third Leaving Certificate group, a cookery programme (in conjunction with the HSE) and a six-month ‘Fresh Start Programme.
There are now three groups of Leaving Certificate students en- rolled in St Joseph’s Education Cen- ken
Two groups are in their second year and will be sitting their exams in June. A new group started this year and are busy with their tasks at present.
According to Mary Fitzgerald of the centre, the cookery programme, which has been offered to the men for the first time at the centre, has gone from strength to strength.
‘There has been great interest in the course, with the men really en- joying being part of it,” she said.
“The ‘Cook it Programme’ is a cookery and nutrition programme taught at the centre in partnership with the local community dieti- cian. In the centre, re-skilling and up-skilling are also seen as the way forward.
“A new six-month pilot program has been developed to help give people an opportunity for new be- ginning,’ she added.
“It gives people the chance to ex- plore vocational opportunities in or- der to progress to further education or employment.”
Modules involved in the pro- gramme include career planning, personal development, computer
skills, healty lifestlyes, CV prepara- tion and job seekers skills.
“There is a change management emphasis being adopted in the course, focusing on life manage- ment skills looking to get people take ownership of their decision making and future possibilities,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
‘The centre is working towards an integration of its services and looks forward to remaining in a position to provide a quality educational
service to the community of Clare into the future.”
St Joseph’s Education Centre is a Centre of Education and Training for Travellers and settled people aged 18 and over in the Clare area. It is based in the Gort Road Busi- ness Park, in Ennis.
The Ennis Traveller’s Training Centre was the first in the country. It started as part of a Combat Poverty Programme in 1974.
At that time, it was located in the
erounds of the Holy Family School, Ennis. In 1982 the centre moved to new building at the Gort road indus- WUD motel Kos