Vol. 541 No. 4
487 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Education and Science when the improvement in the pupil-teacher ratio for vocational training opportunities scheme participants with less than upper second level education will be put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22928/01]
The development of the vocational training opportunities scheme – VTOS – features strongly in the back to education initiative, as set out in the White Paper on Adult Education Learning for Life. Under this measure, £1.27 billion is being provided under the National Development Plan, 2000-2006, which proposes the development of a number of programmes, including the vocational training opportunities scheme – VTOS – on a part-time basis. One of the principal objectives of the vocational training opportunities scheme is to reach those most in need, particularly older unemployed people and those with the lowest educational skills.
The structure of, and entry criteria to, VTOS are under consideration in the context of a consultancy study currently being undertaken with a view to making the scheme even more effective in targeting people who are hardest to reach. As part of this strategy, improvements in class size to a 10:1 ratio are proposed for all participants on the back to education initiative with less than upper second level education.
A working group has been established to plan the introduction of the back to education initiative. The changes necessary to refocus the vocational training opportunities scheme – VTOS – including an improved pupil-teacher ratio as mentioned above, will be examined in this forum.
