VTOS Shanagolden Awards Ceremony

VTOS Shanagolden learners who graduated or were awared component certificates, Marian Hickey Meaney, Pat Nolan, Michael Purtill, Mary Hogan, Donna O’Donovan and Patricia Potts with (seated) Gerard Griffin, National VTOS Co-orinator, Melanie Casey, Manager, VTOS Shanagolden and Triona Lynch, LCETB Adult Education Officer, at the award ceremony last Thursday night. – Photo Eddie Guiry.

Further Education and Training Centre Shanagolden, Award Ceremony
Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board’s Further Education and Training Centre, Shanagolden Campus, celebrated the educational achievement of its Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) adult learners on Thursday night last, October 17th in The Old Stand, Shanagolden. Learners graduated with a QQI Level 5 Major Award in Information Processing and current learners received Level 5 Component Certificates.
Melanie Casey, VTOS Coordinator welcomed graduates, learners, staff, family and friends and commended the learners on their achievements. VTOS Presentations were made to the learners by invited guest speakers; Triona Lynch, FET Manager, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board and Gerard Griffin, National VTOS and Youth Coordinator.
Gerard Griffin presented the component certificates to learners who are continuing their learning at VTOS. He praised VTOS for being “responsive, creative and challenging”, providing real opportunities for learners to progress to employment. He called on learners “to be advocates for the course by confirming their success and selling the course to others”.
The range of subject areas presented reflects the role that Further Education and Training plays in equipping people with the skills to adapt, upskill and move into new areas of employment or learning. The subjects included: Computers Skills such as; Database Methods, Spreadsheet Methods, Information Commun-ication Systems, Word Processing, Business Skills; Bookkeeping, Payroll; as well as Communications, Work Experience, and Painting.
Triona Lynch described learning as a journey: “Further Education is all about choosing something that will help you into employment or to upskill into higher education.” She encouraged everyone to continue on the “learning journey” by quoting Henry Ford: ‘Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young.’
VTOS graduate Michael Purtill who received an Information Processing Award described the two years of study as a positive experience, which benefitted him when going for job interviews. Michael also spoke of the support of fellow learners on the course.
Current learner Donna O’Donovan spoke on behalf of learners who are in their second year of study: “We can all agree that our time, to date, at the campus has given us all a new appreciation for education and re-trainin. Our tutors have always given us great support and guidance when we have needed it in order for us to achieve our goals. Our confidence has grown. Hopefully, 2020, will give each of us new opportunities either to continue to learn or up-skill or return to work. Whichever road we take, our time within VTOS has been a valued and meaningful experience for us all, and one which will be with us for a long time.”
Congratulations to all the recipients! The FET Centre, Shanagolden Campus can be contacted at 069-60106.