REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF THE LAUNCH OF NCI
REMARKS BY PRESIDENT MARY McALEESE ON THE OCCASION OF THE LAUNCH OF NCI – COLLEGE FOR A LEARNING SOCIETY ON MONDAY 15 JUNE 1998
Some time ago, Joyce O’Connor contacted me to see if I would join you today for this launch of “NCI - College for a Learning Society”. She did so, she said, because of my vision for the Irish Presidency – and my views on the need for building bridges at all levels in Irish society. In putting like that, Joyce certainly struck the right note. But I am doubly pleased to be with you today because of my own keen interest in education. When I was at Queens University, as Pro Vice Chancellor, one of the areas in which I took a particularly keen interest, was that of access to education – of opening up access, to try to get rid of the notion that education is the preserve of an elite who – through family or economic circumstances – could be ‘fortunate’ enough to take part in something that was a privilege. And since becoming President, that interest hasn’t left me – and I find that I keep coming back to this again and again. So I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Joyce for affording me this honour – and for giving me the opportunity to be associated with what is a great day for the College – as it embarks on a new direction – looking to the requirements of Irish society into the next millennium.
In the closing century of this millennium, society in Ireland has seen profound changes – as we went from fledgling state to modern prosperous democracy - participating fully in a new Europe – with a highly skilled population ready to take on the very best. Central to that monumental and breathtaking metamorphosis has been the education system – and the educational institutions – through their willingness and readiness to see what was required – and in meeting the rising need for more and wider education. Opening up access to education meant removing the barriers of poverty and circumstance – and promoting a culture of learning - that was to ‘liberate’ a wealth of talent. For me, one of the most shining examples of that 'liberation' was Seamus Heaney – who described in his poem “From the Canton of Expectation” – the “Books open in the newly wired kitchens” – and the “Young heads that might have dozed a life away . . paving and pencilling their first causeways across the prescribed texts” – with their “intelligences brightened and unmannerly as crowbars”.
That push for greater access to education represented a significant challenge to Irish educators. Happily, they rose to the challenge and have broadened the scope of education - so that today we have a system that is far wider than the pure academic – encompassing the many technologies and new disciplines that are now part of our modern world. The National College of Industrial Relations – through its mission to make a difference in Irish society by championing the principles of access, opportunity and excellence in education – has established a solid reputation for pioneering innovative projects – and has made education widely available to all sectors of society.
Today, education is available to everyone – through full-time and part-time courses in the colleges and technological institutes - and in the specialist schools. It has the flexibility to address the needs and requirements of everybody – school-leavers – those who have already been in the workforce and who want to change career - or those who missed out on a comprehensive education earlier in life through economic or social circumstance. I was moved recently by a woman who told me of her shame and guilt at not being able to write to her own son after he had taken a job in Germany. She had kept her secret and shame from her family until her five children were reared. I was struck by her anger at being allowed to slip out of the education system as a child – and by her joy at being given a new lease of life since she chanced to follow up a radio report on adult literacy. The message to me was clear – that it is never too late to establish or to renew contact with education – because education is the secret of coping with change.
Those who come into the education system bring with them whole new reservoirs of knowledge – and add to the sum total of our knowledge. It is not a case of diluting any pre-ordained knowledge base. The more people we can include – the more people we can use – the more skills and talents we put at the disposal of our community. Until we have everybody in education – and everybody’s talents being fully utilised – we are still flying on one wing. In the coming millennium, our ability to respond to the many changing needs and priorities, will determine whether we can continue to prosper and provide a livelihood for the coming generations. I have often quoted John Henry Newman – the father of the National University of Ireland – and his message that “to live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often”. Education is a life-long process – as we update our knowledge and skills – and take on new skills – or even start new careers – as the pace of the modern world is reflected in changing demands on employers and employees. The concept of a job for life is fast becoming a thing of the past – and more and more people expect to change careers at least once in their working lives. There are many women – like that woman I mentioned earlier who had the literacy problem – women who have devoted years to rearing their children and keeping a family together – women who had previous careers and who still have a great deal to contribute – women who find that they too would like to start a new job – or take up an old career – but who know that they need to re-educate to do so. Making that move is not always easy – but it would be virtually impossible without educational institutions such as yours to allow people to progress and to prepare themselves.
As I said already, the National College of Industrial Relations has played a major part in facilitating change in Irish society over many years – and in launching “NCI - College for a Learning Society” today – as the first step in the process of developing a “College of the 21st Century” – working in partnership with industry, business and the community - we are recognising the link between education and progress – between learning and prosperity – and the continuous nature of education throughout life as the foundation for a competitive knowledge-based society. Sean McArdle and his daughter Caroline – whom I met earlier - symbolise the bridge between the young student and the adult learner – and how education is a life long activity. I have no doubt that when Sean was Caroline’s age, he never for a moment thought that he would be studying for a degree at this stage in his life – let alone attending college with his daughter! But there are many Sean McArdles out there who are returning to education – who want to be part of our “learning society” – and who can do so because of NCI and the other institutions that now facilitate mature students.
I want to wish you well in your new direction – and with your new mission to provide education for the 21st Century.