OPINION:The adult literacy role of Tipperary ETB enriches our society

Liam Cleere has a remarkable story to tell. The fact that he has told his life story in a book, given that he finished primary school and secondary school without being able to read and write, makes his story all the more astonishing.
His book recalls an amazing literacy journey. Liam’s story is one of deep sadness.

It tells of how he fell between the cracks, how isolated and lost he felt within the educational system in this country.
Liam clearly states that he was not the only one that the education system failed. He encountered many more as the years went by.

His character and the resilience, determination and courage he showed throughout his literacy transformation shines through in the article written by Micheal Heverin in this week’s paper.
His book, My Journey from the Back of the Class, has a happy ending but it is a story that is far from finished.

Liam is moving on to his second book and he is determined to continue on his chosen pathway of adult literacy.
It is only fitting that Liam chooses to pay tribute to Tipperary ETB by including the organisation in the title of his book.
He acknowledges the enormous debt he owes to Tipperary ETB, tutor and mentor Marie Clancy and all of his tutors and ETB staff that have helped him over the years.

His praise speaks volumes to the whole-of-centre infrastructure within Tipperary ETB. Liam is passionate about adult literacy and he encourages people to make the phone call, just as he had to do in desperation at the start of his 10-year adult literacy journey, that could change their lives.

To give somebody who had endured such a negative educational experience a second chance, to ensure he was not allowed slip through the cracks again and that he received every support, is of enormous credit to Tipperary ETB. For every adult literacy success story, the society we live in is deeply enriched.