The FET Stakeholders Group most recent meeting took place on the 24th of February. An agreed communication for the FET sector is set our below. Of particular importance for our members is that
- Only specified Phase 2 apprenticeships will return to on-site delivery next Monday 1st March
- There should be no on-site delivery for QQI awards, at any level, or for apprenticeships other than those approved for on-site return, pending further advice
- Leaving Certificate Students and LCA students in any FET programme (including Youthreach, VTOS, BTEI etc.) are to return to on-site provision on Monday 1st March.
For clarity, in a centre providing both LCA and QQI modules, only LCA delivery should be undertaken on-site and only LCA students are required to return. If LCA2 and LCA1 students are currently in the same class for a subject/s, both groups can return if circumstances allow - i.e., LCA2 and LCA1 students can attend on-site classes for those subjects and the LCA1 students can engage in remote learning for their other subjects (where they are not combined with LCA2).
The agreed communication follows:
Overarching guidelines will continue to apply and further education and training institutions will continue to operate primarily online with the emergency remote learning remaining the primary mode of delivery for most activities with remote working encouraged where possible. All requests from staff to engage in on-site provision are to remain the subject of risk assessment, consultation, and agreement with management.
It was agreed that a small number of critical and time sensitive apprenticeship classes identified by SOLAS as the coordinating providers for craft apprenticeships will return to training on 1st of March 2021. Return to learning resources for this cohort were developed to assist with plans for reopening and are available on ETBI digital library. Apprentices should complete this module and achieve the associated certification prior to return to the classroom.
SOLAS will ensure that the training centres delivering these time-critical classes have access to the craft assessment system.
Planning has now commenced for the phased return of other time-critical groups of apprentices, further information will be provided on the proposed plans in due course. This is a continually evolving situation and will be closely monitored with all planning based on full adherence to the current national guidelines and health and safety regulations.
It was also confirmed that final year Leaving Certificate / Leaving Certificate Applied session 4 learners enrolled in FET Centres including Youthreach/BTEI/VTOS etc. will receive the same provisions in relation to on-site learning as second level schools and in accordance with the most recent governmental guidelines will reopen on 1st of March 2021.
Planning has also commenced in respect of the return to FET centres for learners at levels 4, 5 and 6 who are engaged in time-critical practical elements across the awards including QQI, City of Guilds, Junior and Senior Trade examinations. This return will be carried out in a phased approach and in accordance with current Governmental COVID-19 Resilience & Recovery 2021 – The Path Ahead framework. Further information confirming the agreed starting date for this aspect of phased re-opening will be issued in the coming days.
Further updates on any on-site returns will issue in the coming weeks. Until such time, all provision of QQI modules remains remote and there should be no on-site activity beyond that which is set out above i.e. identified Phase 2 apprenticeships, Leaving Certificate and Leaving Certificate Applied,