Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 4 Dec 1990

Vol. 403 No. 4

Written Answers. - Post-Leaving Certificate Courses.

Tomás MacGiolla

Ceist:

275 Tomás Mac Giolla asked the Minister for Education in respect of post leaving certificate courses (a) the number of students who enrol in such courses, (b) whether her Department is involved in sanctioning and/or monitoring such courses and (c) her plans to undertake the necessary certification of such courses.

Minister for Education (Mrs. O'Rourke)

11,434 trainees participated in Vocational Preparation and Training VPT-2 courses in 1989-90. VPT-2 is aimed at trainees who have either completed a senior cycle programme or a VPT-1 course but who need further training to enhance their prospects of securing lasting employment.

Participation by schools in the programme is subject to approval annually by my Department, and programme delivery is monitored on an on-going basis. At present each trainee who successfully completes the programme is awarded a certificate by my Department which is supplemented by locally based assessment certification. However, there is a need for a national, performance based certification system.

A working group will report to me shortly on the general question of assessment and certification of second level vocational training programmes with a view to the establishment of such a national system.