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Minister Norma Foley with a student from Nano Nagle Listowel at MTU Kerry Campus on Tuesday. Photo by Domnick Walsh
MINISTER for Education, Norma Foley T.D, has urged third level institutions to sign up to future summer programme in the wake of a successful pilot project.
Munster Technological University (MTU) Kerry campus opened up its facilities in its Tralee campus for the summer programme to special schools in the region.
The Nano Nagle Special School in Listowel took up the opportunity to run its summer programme for two weeks on the MTU campus. In its turn, MTU was able to offer a host of amenities, including access to a hydrotherapy pool which is equipped with a ceiling and pool hoist, making the pool accessible to all.
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The pilot project is just one of more than 1,700 individual summer programme schemes running this summer, across primary, post-primary and special schools, for children with special educational needs or educational disadvantage.
The programmes are free-of-charge for families and are funded by a €40 million budget allocation.
Minister Norma Foley at MTU Kerry Campus with students from Nano Nagle School in Listowel on Tuesday. Photo by Domnick Walsh
Minister for Education Norma Foley TD said that MTU was the first third level institution to host the summer programme.
“I really want to congratulate the leadership of MTU Kerry campus and Nano Nagle special school in Listowel for the innovation they have displayed in running the summer programme. I look forward to seeing similar initiatives being rolled out on other campuses around the country.”
Today, Minister Foley met MTU staff and parents and students from Nano Nagle Special School in Listowel. The summer programme was put together with the help of Jacqueline Halpin, the school programme organiser and Dr. Michael Hall Head of Department of Health & Leisure Studies and Hazel Byrne Manager, Kerry Sports Academy, the co-ordinators for MTU.
Minister Norma Foley at MTU Kerry Campus on Tuesday. Photo by Domnick Walsh
Under the pilot summer programme, children with a wide range of ages and abilities from Nano Nagle Special School attended the pilot project for two weeks at MTU at the start of July. A variety of activities, which included drama and a drumming workshop, also took place in MTU.
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