New research by the Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) shows large disparities in respect of the number of Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) places available to students around the country. (Click here for data).
Offaly, Donegal, Roscommon and Kildare rank lowest in terms of PLC places available per level of population, and even in those counties with a lower level of population per place, demand often outstrips availability.
TUI is calling for better provision for all potential students, regardless of location.
Comments from TUI President Gerard Craughwell:
‘PLC courses offer a range of options to school leavers, workers seeking to upskill or to second chance adult learners. Courses offer standalone qualifications or represent a major step towards securing a third level place and further education colleges are uniquely placed to respond rapidly to the needs of the local community. For example, recent courses have been devised in cloud computing, computer network engineering and green energy.
PLC courses should be available to people of all ages, regardless of location. In the current climate, it is completely unreasonable and impractical to expect that students would live away from their home base while completing a one or two-year PLC course. Even leaving aside the obvious financial implications, such a situation flagrantly discriminates against mature students and those with family or part-time work commitments.
We are therefore concerned at the wide disparity in the availability of PLC places from county to county. It is vital that any restrictions on the number of places available is lifted. Even within those counties with lower numbers of people per PLC place, demand far outstrips availability.
The public education system has proven itself to be the gold standard in terms of the provision of these courses. TUI seriously cautions against any further move towards supply from for-profit providers.
An increase in the pupil teacher ratio for the sector from 17:1 to 19:1 which became effective from the beginning of this academic year saw the removal of 200 full-time teaching posts from the sector. Part-time teachers on low numbers of hours would have been first hit by this cut, and when the resulting social welfare payments to those who have lost posts are taken into consideration, we would question the savings to the exchequer.
Meanwhile, the €200 fee payable by students since 2011 remains an impediment to participation for many students and should be removed ahead of the next academic year.’