andMr. Browne asked the Minister for Education why VEC scholarships to regional colleges for pupils with less than two honours in the leaving certificate examination were withdrawn while at the same time the pupil-teacher ratio was increased thereby making it more difficult for schools to offer realistic honours options.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - VEC Scholarships.
6.
I do not accept the implication in the question from the Deputies that the appropriate standard to be specified for the award of scholarships to students to be admitted to certain third level educational institutions is affected by the adjustments being made in regard to the staffing of second level schools.
I may also add, for the purpose of avoiding any misunderstanding in relation to the matter, that the relevant circular letter dealing with the conditions for the award of the scholarships to which I have referred will not be issued prior to consultation with representatives of the educational interests concerned. The conditions to be prescribed are accordingly not yet finalised.
I am glad to see that the Minister's reply represents what I would consider a climb down on the original budget announcement. Do I take it from the Minister's reply that the earlier statement of the two honours requirement for a pupil to receive a VEC scholarship to enter an RTC has been revised? Is the Minister aware that at present, for instance, in my home area, which has an RTC in the locality, over 50 per cent of the students who went to it last year on VEC scholarships did not have the two honours requirement? Is the Minister aware that this step will lead to a new elitism in third level education as all the other cutbacks have led to the same in other areas of education?
With regard to the second part of the Deputy's question, a hatter of detail in relation to her particular area, I am afraid that is a separate question. I would like to say, in answer to the first part of the question, that I can only presume that the Deputy agrees that a process of consultation should always be entered into, as has been done by me since coming into office on every single area of education. I must stress to her that I feel it is in the best interests of the students and the educational interests concerned that such consultations should be held at every possible opportunity before debates are conducted in the House.
Would the Minister be prepared to have a look at the particular difficulties that have been caused in the change of qualifications for scholarships to the regional colleges? As we know honour certificate courses are two-year courses and many of those children doing their leaving certificate this year have to change to honours stream mid-way and are not perhaps at a fair advantage. Would the Minister consider looking at the particular difficulties that have been caused in view of this?
I would like to assure the Deputy, in the spirit of the answer which I gave to the original question, that I intend to consult with the relevant interests on all these matters.
Do I take it that the original statement will now be revised and that pupils wishing to enter their RTC with a VEC scholarship will not now need the two honours requirement?
I am afraid the only thing the Deputy may take from my answer is that I intend to consult, as I have done on other issues, with the representatives of the educational interests concerned.