Further education and training

The term 'further education and training' covers a broad range of education and training that occurs after second-level schooling but that is not part of the third-level system. A distinctive feature of further education generally is its diversity and breadth of provision, as well as its links with other services, such as employment, training, area partnership, welfare, youth, school, juvenile liaison, justice, community and voluntary interests. The Department of Education and Science provides for programmes such as post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses; the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) for the unemployed; Youthreach for early school-leavers; senior Traveller training centre programmes for young and adult Travellers who have left school early; adult literacy; the Back-to-Education Initiative community education; self-funded part-time adult education programmes.

These further education programmes are generally provided locally by the vocational education committees and by second-level schools. Programmes at this level are also provided through other Government departments by a range of training agencies, such as FAS, CERT, and Teagasc, and by community organisations. National certification is provided by the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC), and programmes can also be offered that lead to awards under the Junior or Leaving Certificates.

This chapter aims to provide an overview of participation in the various further education and training programmes now in operation.

Excerpt from publication reprinted by permission of the copyright owner. Show less