Development Education in Ireland. Challenges and Opportunities for the Future.

Resource Description

‘The greatest difficulty we have in describing Development Education in Ireland in the present day is that the picture is so mixed. Measured in terms of activity there is a broad and significant network of groups active in promoting development education in both the formal and non-formal sectors, yet many of these groups are not confident of their impact, their sustainability or their place in the ‘bigger’ development education picture.’

The outcome of this research, also known as the Kenny Report, is a document that:

• quantifies the range, extent, impact and potential of the development education sector on the island of Ireland
• notes the significant achievements of and impact of the sector and glimpses the opportunity for the sector, with strategic direction and leadership, to place both the content and process of development education firmly within community based education in Ireland
• strengthens the significant impact of development education on consciousness raising, on wider world awareness and on informed action for global and local justice.

The following recommendations are put forward in this report:

• that the development education sector should take a leading role in the development of a strategic plan for development education in Ireland
• that development education stakeholders promote a national and transnational inclusive dialogue on the nature and context of development education
• that the development education sector take a leading role in instituting a model of ‘best practice’ that promotes the highest standards in all aspects of development education work