Cork Education and Training Board’s response to the Ukrainian crisis through their family integration programme received high praise at the annual ETBI conference on Thursday, September 28 last, with integration and human connection discussed at day two of the event in City Hall.
Since March 2022, Cork schools have enrolled 1,096 children into their primary schools, and 533 children into their post-primary schools. To assist with their integration into their entities in the city and county, the Cork branch of the national Regional Education and Language Team (REALT) facilitated the registration and integration of these families.
The primary role of Cork ETB Regional Education and Language Team (REALT) is to support and coordinate the provision of educational services across the city and county for families who have fled the war in Ukraine.
THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION
The conference took place over two days, with a full line-up of keynote speakers and panel discussions. Some of the highlights from the agenda included inputs from: Joanne O’Riordan, disability activist, writer and broadcaster; John Lonergan, writer and former governor of Mountjoy Prison; Anna Artemyeva, Head of Google for Education, UK & Ireland; Niall Collins TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Skills and Further Education; and Bernie McNally, Secretary General of the Department of Education.
The theme for this year’s conference was ‘The ETB of the Future’ – exploring key themes such as the classroom of the future, the role of AI and technology in the education, the importance of inclusion and diversity, and what learners want for the class of 2033. The event brought together over 300 representatives from across the sector and featured a line-up of over 40 speakers.
Data from the Central Statistics Office was presented at the conference giving insights on the current landscape of the country, learner tendencies and who the ‘learner of the future’ might be. According to CSO data:
87% of 20-year-olds in Ireland took at least one post-secondary education programme; 70% of 20-year-olds in Ireland went into higher education either directly from school or via a further education pathway;
Almost all (98%) of 13-year-olds in Ireland have a smart-phone;
There has been a significant increase in the non-Catholic population, driven by growing numbers with no religion, and increases in other religions.
PROVIDING SUPPORT
Cork REALT works closely with the Department of Education and the ETBI to identify and meet the emerging needs of Ukrainian children enrolling in primary and post-primary schools. REALT coordinators in Cork have to date supported families living in 83 accommodation centres, in addition to assisting families living in private accommodation or with host families, to source school places.
As of June 2023, there were 15,589 Ukrainian students in schools in Ireland (10,105 in primary and 5,484 in post-primary) – one of the highest rates in Europe for the enrolment of students who have fled their homeland in Ukraine, since the Russian invasion in February 2022.
Over the summer months, new accommodation centres opened in Cork, and REALT supported a substantial number of school enrolments ahead of the 2023/2024 academic year.
The REALT team in Cork also provide guidance and information to schools who intend to or have enrolled Ukrainian pupils, and an important role for REALT is signposting families to other educational and community supports as REALT is often one of the first agencies onsite to meet a family.
The pivotal role Education and Training Boards (ETBs) played nationwide in integrating refugees into the Irish education system was a key discussion point at the conference.
