A celebration of achievement evening took place last Friday to mark the steadfast progress, Merton’s Adult Education Service has made in the last year.
The evening was held at the main learning centre in Whatley Avenue, SW20. The award categories included overcoming barriers to learning, new learners’ achievement award, older learner award, learning for work, group award and outstanding achievement.
Yvonne Tomlin, Head of Merton Community Education opening the evening and was followed by entertainment provided in the form of a Bollywood dance routine, as well as rumba, tango and salsa dancing performed by local dance tutor Joan Pires. The newly elected Mayor of Merton, Councillor Geraldine Stanford also lent her support to this event and was responsible for the presentation of the various awards to both students and tutors.
Furthermore, a number of students were able to showcase their superlative talents in a display of artwork and photography.
Interim Director of Community and Housing, Jeff Hobden said:
‘The individual achievements of the residents who use our Adult Education Service are a huge inspiration. It was a very emotional evening, but tremendously exciting.
“Although we are delighted that the Service got high ratings in its recent Inspection, the key is what the learners get out of their courses. The fact that Merton residents achieve so much is a tremendous credit to them as well as to the Service.”
Councillor Maurice Groves, newly elected member for Community Services also paid tribute to the efforts of both students and tutors:
“Friday evening was an excellent evening, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all those that attended. It gave me the opportunity to see the positive work that is being done under the umbrella of Merton’s Adult Education Service”
Merton’s Adult Education Service recorded a jump of two grades in the November 2005 inspection by the Adult Learning Inspectorate (ALI). This was in stark contrast to the previous results of the Adult Education Services inspection in October 2004, which proved to be unfavourable.