Irish Vocational Education Association

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Registration Fee for PLCs A Matter of Concern for Vocational Sector
01 November 2010
Reports that a registration fee of €500 could be imposed on Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses are a matter of serious concern for the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA).
PLC programmes are delivered by Vocational Education Committees (VECs) and are designed for those who have completed Senior Cycle education and require further education and training to enhance their prospects of employment. The PLC courses prepare participants for employment or for further education and training, and develop participants' skills required for specific occupations.
Currently 38,000 participants are availing of PLC courses through the Vocational Education sector, the education sector most closely aligned to the needs of the labour market. A cap of 31,500 PLC places has been imposed by the Department of Education on VECs in recent years. Rising unemployment and changing workplace needs have led to an unprecedented demand for places on PLC courses, and VECs have taken in additional students, bringing numbers to approximately 38,000. However, demand for such places is estimated at 50,000, leaving a shortfall of 12,000 places.
Commenting on reports that government is considering imposing a registration fee for participants on PLC programmes, Michael Moriarty, General Secretary of the IVEA, said:
To impose a registration fee on PLCs is to effectively tax employment opportunities. Such a charge would particularly impose on the many PLC students from lower socio-economic backgrounds, who may not qualify for a grant, and on those who find themselves out of a job and seeking to re-skill. To place a charge on the PLC route to employment would be most regrettable, as it would impact on skills training enhancement which is at the core of PLC education.
The European Commission's strategy is to enhance education and training opportunities and to maximise educational opportunities for all, irrespective of their socio-economic background. It would be most undesirable, therefore, if registration charges were to be introduced, which could dampen demand from those most in need of skills enhancement to facilitate their re-entry into the workforce.
The Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) is the representative body for the 33 Vocational Educational Committees (VECs) in Ireland, and works to protect, promote and enhance the interests of vocational education and training within the wider education sector and the country at large.
VECs deliver a wide range of educational services, from managing community national schools, second-level schools and colleges, Post Leaving Certificate colleges (PLCs) and education centres to providing training programmes for Travellers, adult literacy courses, prisoner education services, Youthreach programmes, Vocational Training Opportunities Schemes, and community education programmes.
VEC PLCs have developed a range of programmes and courses in response to the needs of industry and commerce which are certified by FETAC at levels 3 to 6, and by the professional bodies which set standards for entry into the professions.
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