Aitheasc an Chathaoirligh

Chairpersons Address

Ultan Mac Mathúna, Cathaoirleach ESCI

Is iad Ionaid Tacaíochta Oideachais na hÉireann (ITOhÉ) an comhlacht ionadaíoch dos na 21 Ionad Oideachais lán-aimseartha agus 7 nIonad Oideachais páirt-aimseartha ar fud na hÉireann. Mar chomhlacht ionadaíoch, is é ról ITOhÉ ná iarracht a dhéanamh leasanna a chomhaltaí a chosaint, a chur chun cinn agus a fheabhsú laistigh den Earnáil Oideachais. In 2020, d’fhormhuinigh agus sheol ITOhÉ a Ráiteas Straitéise do 2020-2023 agus leagtar amach sa ráiteas físe sa doiciméad seo an plean oibre do ITOhÉ. Tá an doiciméad seo soiléir ina fhís luaite: ‘’Beidh IOThÉ ina chomhpháirtí suntasach chun pobail oideachais a chumasú chun freastal ar na riachtanais chomhthéacsúla a bhaineann le beartais agus cleachtais oideachais atá ag teacht chun cinn; forbairt ghairmiúil agus phearsanta ar ardchaighdeán a sholáthar d’oideachasóirí ar leibhéal áitiúil, réigiúnach agus náisiúnta’’ (Ráiteas Straitéise IOThÉ 2020-2023). Mar chathaoirleach ar IOThÉ, oibreoidh mé le mo chomh-oifigigh agus comhaltaí an Choiste Feidhmiúcháin chun é seo a bhaint amach.

Tá comhpháirtíochtaí láidre ag Líonra na nIonad Oideachais le Páirtithe Leasmhara Oideachais agus beidh na luachanna atá leagtha amach sa Ráiteas Straitéise mar bhonn agus mar thaca ag ár gcuid oibre; ceannaireacht, cuimsitheacht, comhpháirtíocht agus comhoibriú, trédhearcacht, cuntasacht agus tiomantas d’athrú dearfach agus d’fheabhsúchán marthanach.

Táim ag tnúth le bheith ag obair le mo Chomhghleacaithe Stiúrtha go léir agus lena gCoistí Bainistíochta le linn mo thréimhse chun cur go dearfach le forbairt inbhuanaithe IOThÉ agus chun an uaillmhian a bhaint amach go gceiliúrfar Ionaid Tacaíochta Oideachais na hÉireann (IOThÉ) mar Ionaid Sármhaitheasa, ag freastal ar riachtanais fhorbartha phearsanta agus ghairmiúla gach duine atá ag obair inár mbunscoileanna agus ár n-iar-bhunscoileanna’.

The Education Support Centres of Ireland (ESCI) is the representative body of the 21 full-time and 7 part-time Education Centres across Ireland. As the representative body, the role of ESCI is to seek to protect, promote and enhance the interests of its members within the Education Sector. In 2020, ESCI endorsed and launched their Statement of Strategy for 2020-2023 and this document outlines in its vision statement the work plan for ESCI. This document is explicit in its stated vision: ‘’ESCI will be a significant partner in enabling education communities to meet the contextual needs of evolving educational policy and practice; providing quality professional and personal development for educators at local, regional and national level’’ (ESCI Statement of Strategy 2020-2023). As chairperson of ESCI, I will work with my fellow officers and members of the Executive Committee to realise this vision.

The Education Centre Network has strong partnerships with Education Stakeholders and our work will be underpinned by the values outlined in the Statement of Strategy; leadership, inclusivity, partnership and collaboration, transparency, accountability and commitment to positive change and sustained improvement.

I look forward to working with all my Director colleagues and their Management Committees over the course of my tenure to contribute positively to the sustained development of ESCI and to realise the ambition ‘that Education Support Centres are celebrated as Centres of Excellence, meeting the personal and professional development needs of all those working in our primary and post-primary schools’.

Cathaoirleach ESCI