Irish Vocational Education Association

IVEA commends the improvement made by VEC schools in the Report on Retention Rates published by the Department of Education and Skills this morning. Michael Moriarty, General Secretary of the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) welcomed the reality that the average Leaving Certificate retention rate for vocational schools has shown the biggest improvement, with an increase of 16.1 percentage points between the 1991 and 2004 cohorts when compared with other schools.

Mr Moriarty referenced the fact that the Report's analysis is limited in that it relates to students entering the state-aided post primary sector only and does not take account of important educational pathways outside this system such as Youthreach and apprenticeship training.

"Educational disadvantage is a symptom of broader and more fundamental inequities in society at large which relates to the unequal distribution of cultural and financial resources. In reality, those that leave school early come predominantly from the strata of society which experience significant economic and social disadvantage. The specific needs and experiences of early school leavers must be considered if retention is to continue to improve," according to Mr Moriarty.

"Educational disadvantage is largely inseparable from the influences of family, school and neighbourhood and indeed the impact of public policies and programmes. Equality of educational opportunity for all must remain a key objective of Government. This requires an integrated and multi-faceted approach as there is a strong link between poverty, low education attainment and early school leaving".

Mr Moriarty referenced a previous 2010 ESRI Report "No Way Back? The Dynamics of Early School Leaving?" which called for a need for greater capacity and resourcing of post school alternatives. In this context, Mr Moriarty called for the expansion and revision of the Youthreach programme stating that "Youthreach has proven itself as an effective school alternative which keeps young people in the education system. The Youthreach model needs to be modified and expanded so that young people in danger of dropping out of school can transfer to the Youthreach Training centres and learn new and relevant skills. The network of Youthreach centres should be expanded considerably and requires significantly improved resourcing.

The vocational sector has traditionally been a significant conduit for implementing and delivering government education and training policies and in responding to changing economic needs, government policies, workforce initiatives and the needs of industry and commerce.

Mr Moriarty underlined the education and training capacity of VECs noting that IVEA had submitted proposals to the Department of Education and Skills for apprenticeship training which in his view, "have huge merit."

"All commentators at home and abroad agree on one important and key point for turning the country's fortune around- the need to invest heavily in education and training, not alone of our young people, but of all those who find themselves unemployed. Never," he said, "was the old adage more true, 'What you sow is what you reap'".

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