Thréaslaigh an tAire Leanaí, Eolaíochta, Míchumais, Lánpháirtíochta agus Óige, Roderic O’Gorman TD, le céimithe an chláir sa Cheannaireacht um Chuimsiú sna Luathbhlianta (LINC) agus fáiltíonn sé roimh an tionchar dearfach a imreoidh siad ar an mbealach ina dtugtar aghaidh ar chuimsiú laistigh den earnáil luathchúram leanaí. Bhí an tAire O’Gorman ag labhairt nuair a bhain 557 Comhordaitheoir Cuimsithe ó seacht gcontae is fiche dámhachtain amach ón gclár LINC ag searmanas speisialta i gColáiste Mhuire gan Smál (CMgS) i Luimneach ar an Satharn 15 Deireadh Fómhair.
Ag moladh na gcéimithe as an méid a bhí bainte amach acu, dúirt an tAire O’Gorman: “I offer my congratulations to all 557 graduates from the LINC programme. The programme has been key in promoting the inclusion of children with disabilities in the ECCE programme. The work and commitment of the LINC Consortium team to leading inclusive practises in preschool settings has been significant in the success of the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM). As LINC graduates, they will be fully qualified to play the role of Inclusion Coordinators within early learning and care settings. As Inclusion Coordinators, they will play a leadership role in changing how disability and inclusion are viewed in the settings within which they work and – through their leadership influence on colleagues, parents and children – they will have a wider impact in our society as a whole. I warmly welcome the graduates’ commitment to professional development and I wish them well with their future endeavours.”
Bunaithe in 2016, is clár ardoideachais é LINC atá deartha chun cuimsiú leanaí i suíomhanna luathfhoghlama agus cúraim a fheabhsú trí ról na gComhordaitheoirí Cuimsithe a fhorbairt. Tá an clár, atá á thairiscint ag cuibhreannas faoi cheannas CMgS, le hionchur ó Luath-óige Éireann agus ó Roinn Froebel um Oideachas Bunscoile agus Luath-Óige de chuid Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, mar chuid de thiomantas an Rialtais chun oideachas ardchaighdeáin a sholáthar agus tugadh isteach é mar chuid den Samhail Rochtana agus Chuimsithe (AIM) i 2016.
Ag labhairt dó ag an Searmanas Bronnta, a reáchtáladh in Amharclann Chrann an Lime Tree ar champas Luimnigh de chuid CMgS, dúirt an tOllamh Eugene Wall, Uachtarán CMGS, “The LINC graduation symbolises the significant contribution of all early years’ educators to the creation of enriched inclusive early years’ experiences for all children,” lean an tOllamh Wall ar aghaidh ag tabhairt aitheantais do thiomantas na gcéimithe don chuimsiú sna luathbhlianta, a leanann ar aghaidh ag cur le “creation of a more inclusive society for all of us”.
Rinne an tOllamh Emer Ring, Déan na Luath-Óige agus an Oideachais Mhúinteoirí i gCMGS, comhghairdeachas le céimithe LINC as a n-éacht iontach, ag tabhairt faoi deara go leanann “research continues to remind us that all children thrive and achieve their potential when they are supported by educators who are committed to creating and nurturing inclusive learning environments. The achievement of our LINC graduates here today confirms and underscores their exceptional commitment to cultivating inclusive culture, practice and pedagogy across their settings. In these uncertain times, never has providing inclusive experiences for our children been so critical. We are confident that our graduates in their work as Inclusion Coordinators will continue to build high-quality inclusive early childhood experiences where families are supported and all children are enabled to thrive and achieve their potential.”
Tugadh aitheantas do roinnt céimithe as a gcuid éachtaí suntasacha le linn an tsearmanais, ina measc bhí Breda Martina Byrne as Co. Thiobraid Árann, ar bronnadh Bonn Óir an Choláiste uirthi as an gcéad áit a bhaint amach ar an gclár. Bronnadh dámhachtain chomh maith ar Barbara Alessandrini, Co. Chill Dara, a ghnóthaigh Dámhachtain don bPunann LINC is fearr urraithe ag Luath-Óige Éireann. Bhain Aileen Kennedy (Co. Loch Garman), Sinéad Hanlon (Co. Dhún na nGall), Lisa Mannion (Co. na Gaillimhe), Aisling McKenna (Co. Átha Cliath), Reeta Rawat (Co. Chorcaí) agus Siobhan Swann (Co. Chorcaí) gradam as an bpunann is fearr sna ngrúpaí faoi seach ina rabhadar.
Bhí an méid seo a leanas le rá ag Teresa Heeney, Príomhfheidhmeannach Luath-Óige Éireann: “This is a hugely important day for both the students who are graduating from the LINC programme and their loved ones, who are no doubt feeling very proud. On behalf of everyone at Early Childhood Ireland, I’d like to offer my warmest congratulations to each graduate on this significant achievement and wish you every success for the future. It is great to see live graduations again which make the graduation event all the more memorable. We believe that every young child should be thriving and learning in the highest quality Early Years settings – the hard work of today’s graduates will ensure that children with additional needs are fully included through their early years’ journey and supported into the future, as they should be. The importance of this work cannot be emphasised enough, as it impacts so positively on both children and their families.”
Bhí an dearcadh céanna ag an Ollamh Comhlach Niamh Fortune, Ceann Roinn Froebel um Oideachas Bunscoile agus Luath-Óige, Ollscoil Mhá Nuad, a dúirt “The LINC programme offers an invaluable opportunity for early childhood educators to engage in high quality professional development which has the potential to transform their practice in the area of inclusive education and develop capacity for leadership within early childhood settings for the future.”
Dhein Shirley Heaney, Comhordaitheoir Náisiúnta an Chláir LINC comhghairdeachas leo ag rá: “I would like to commend each graduate for your dedication and perseverance in completing the LINC Programme in these challenging and unprecedented times. As Inclusion Coordinators, you will play a vital role in supporting and advocating for the inclusion of all children within the Early Learning and Care sector. Through leading an inclusive culture, practice and pedagogy in your settings you will enrich the lives of children and their families. On behalf of myself and the entire LINC team congratulations on your achievement!”
Tá clár LINC saor in aisce do rannpháirtithe agus d’fhostóirí, agus é maoinithe ag an Roinn Leanaí, Eolaíochta, Míchumais, Lánpháirtíochta agus Óige. Is féidir le suíomhanna Luathfhoghlama agus Cúraim a bhfuil Conradh um Chúram agus Oideachas na Luath-óige acu fostaí a ainmniú do LINC agus is gá don ainmní Dámhachtain Leibhéal 5 ina iomláine nó níos airde i ndisciplín ábhartha a bheith ina sealbh acu. Is féidir tuilleadh eolais a fháil ar Chlár LINC ar www.lincprogramme.ie/
