Irish Vocational Education Association

Michael Moriarty, General Secretary of the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA), says that Budget 2011 is "a budget opportunity lost" which "undermines many who are disadvantaged". He further comments:

Amongst the range of expenditure cuts and cost increases across the Education and Training Sectors, there are particular budget decisions which regrettably undermine many who are disadvantaged.

The decision to increase the Pupil Teacher Ratio (PTR) for LCVP (Leaving Certificate Vocational Programmes) from 17:1 to 19:1 means, for example, one VEC having a reduction of 6.67 whole-time teacher resources cut from the programme. A significant number of disadvantaged students avail of the LCVP. The increase in PTR will have a significant effect on the provision of a user-friendly curriculum. These programmes are practical in nature and require a reduced PTR. Subjects such as Science, Physics and Chemistry will have to be curtailed, which is contrary to government policy.
The Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme fosters initiative and a sense of entrepreneurship. These budget cuts undermine the capacity of schools to grow and enhance these characteristics in their students.

The reduction of teacher numbers overall throughout the Education Sector seems to conflict with government policy that frontline services should not be affected. The reality is that taking teachers out of the system will diminish capacity, and in such circumstances, it is the weakest who suffer most.

The proposed closure by June 2012 of Senior Traveller Training Centres (STTCs), with their array of supports for Travellers, is also regrettable. Economic expediency has prevailed, without any regard for the need for transitional supports to Travellers over an agreed timeframe, to assist their changeover to other educational programmes such as BTEI (Back to Education Initiative).

The imposition of a registration fee of €200 for Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) programmes is no more than a tax on learning, and is a most regrettable feature of this budget.

IVEA has been calling for some time for the development of an Internship Programme, and therefore welcomes the announcement of a Skills Development and Internship Programme. However, the collapse of funding for ICT for schools from €63 million (2010) to €1.5 million (2011) will be felt throughout the Education Sector. IVEA believes that sustaining the development of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in schools is a necessary expense if the country is to achieve our ambition of the "Smart Economy".

Since the economic crisis began, VECs' training and education programmes have been cut, and no significant expansion has taken place despite the hugely increased demand and the acknowledged need for increased training and up-skilling to help rebuild the Irish economy. Despite being the most penal budget in the history of the State, Budget 2011 should have included enhanced opportunities for training, retraining and re-skilling. This lack of investment in the future skills needs of our population is a most disappointing element of a budget opportunity lost.

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© IVEA 2012