Ms Sin?ad McGrath:

Yes. Some of the teachers worry a lot about this. They worry about whether they will offend somebody and about who will be allowed to attend. Our approach is very much about normalising the conversation, the view being that if one is part of the centre for education, it entails holistic education. We find that people come, especially in respect of further education and training because one is reaching rural areas. One outreach event I attended was run over three weeks because those concerned were really delving into different areas of the workshop. One of the learners in attendance had friends who were waiting for the next instalment. They were not able to go because they were not in the education system but they were waiting for the learning of the day. I said that is what success looks like. While a person might not have attended the workshop, a friend did and shared the knowledge. We very much have an approach of including everybody. We really try our best to research. In everything we have done in the further education and training sector, we have adapted our resources because of 16-year-old learners who might say what is not reaching them or that they do not understand something or think something is suitable. We try our best to be as inclusive as possible but you have to normalise. I ask the teachers how they will make a difference or make cultural change if they keep thinking about whether such a person will be upset or not be included. Accessibility is sometimes the issue.