asked the Minister for Education if she will give an account of pre-employment courses from their inception to date under the following headings (a) the types of schools, (b) the number of schools, (c) the numbers of teachers, (d) the numbers of pupils, by gender that participated, or were allowed to participate in these courses; whether any external or other forms of evaluation of these courses has been carried out; and whether theories of career choice were incorporated in formulating, implementing and evaluating these courses.
Written Answers. - Pre-Employment Courses.
232.
Available data as requested by the Deputy in respect to pre-employment courses, from their inception in 1976-77 until they were superseded by the Vocational Training and Preparation Programme in 1984-85, are contained in the attached tabular statement.
One of the objectives in formulating the programmes was to develop in participants the ability to plan and make life and career decisions. In their implementation the various elements of the programmes, vocational studies, preparation for working life and general studies were knit together to provide the participants with the knowledge and skills to move from school to work. (For example work experience was used as a means of broadening the awareness of participants to the variety of work available to them.) The programmes were the subject of ongoing evaluation by the Department's Inspectorate and Psychological Service in consultation with school and other authorities.
Pre-Employment Courses
|
Period |
Type of School |
No. of Schools |
No. of Teachers |
No. of Pupils |
|
|
Male |
Female |
||||
|
1983-84 |
Vocational |
139 |
1,488 |
2,702 |
1,565 |
|
Community |
15 |
||||
|
Comprehensive |
5 |
Total 4,427 |
|||
|
1982-83 |
Vocational |
174 |
1,136 |
2,864 |
785 |
|
Community |
|||||
|
Comprehensive |
19 |
Total 3,649 |
|||
|
1981-82 |
Vocational |
137 |
899 |
2,395 |
439 |
|
Community |
|||||
|
Comprehensive |
18 |
Total 2,834 |
|||
|
1980-81 |
Vocational |
134 |
904 |
1,745 |
970 |
|
Community |
|||||
|
Comprehensive |
19 |
Total 2,715 |
|||
|
1979-80 |
Vocational |
111 |
784 |
1,491 |
842 |
|
Community |
|||||
|
Comprehensive |
13 |
Total 2,333 |
|||
|
1978-79 |
Vocational |
107 |
798 |
1,835 |
502 |
|
Community |
|||||
|
Comprehensive |
14 |
Total 2,337 |
|||
|
1977-78 |
Vocational |
Not Available |
Not Available |
||
|
Community |
Total 1,712 |
||||
|
Comprehensive |
|||||
|
1976-77 |
Vocational |
Not Available |
Not Available |
||
|
Community |
Total 304 |
||||
|
Comprehensive |