The Development Education Sector in Ireland a Decade on from the ‘Kenny Report’: Time to Finish the Job?

• Main Author: Michael Doorly
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centre for Global Education 2015-04-01
• Series: Policy and Practice: A Development Education Review
• Subjects: Development Education; National Strategy; Building Capacity; Unified Vision
• Online Access: https://www.developmenteducationreview.com/issue/issue-20/development-education-sector-ireland-decade-%E2%80%98kenny-report%E2%80%99-time-finish-job

This article revisits some of the recommendations, findings and observations contained in the Kenny report, a 2002 overview of the development education sector in the island of Ireland. The article assesses the extent to which the sector has addressed the challenges and weaknesses highlighted by Kenny, particularly the lack of strategic clarity and a unified vision for DE. As a development education practitioner in Ireland over the past twenty years, Michael Doorly is well positioned to assess the progress made by the sector post-Kenny. He finds that significant progress has been made by a passionate and diverse sector, particularly in the establishment of the Irish Development Education Association, which has given strength and leadership to the sector. However, the article suggests that the implementation of Kenny remains unfinished business for DE and needs a strong and engaged development sector together with the support of formal and informal education bodies, to finish the job.