Irish Vocational Education Association

An Cumann Gairmoideachais in Éirinn

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IVEA Congratulates Leaving Certificate Examination Students
17 August 2011
While today is a significant day in the lives of the Leaving Certificate class of 2011, it is important to keep this 'milestone' in perspective, says IVEA General Secretary Michael Moriarty.
'Irrespective of how young people feel about their results today, their Leaving Certificate results are but one of many significant steps on their journey through life and we all need to be mindful of this reality.
'More than anything else, young people need to get themselves into courses and careers that match their aptitudes to real job prospects because simply aiming for prestigious courses and careers can leave young people moored, when the job market changes, as is currently the case, or they find that they cannot cope with work that is not congenial to them.'
In this regard, said Mr Moriarty, 'the recent ESRI report for the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA), which found that many school-leavers are ill-prepared for crucial choices about college courses and future careers because of our failure to adequately resource the careers' guidance system in our school, is alarming.
Indeed, it is not just careers guidance in schools that needs to be upgraded; there is also an urgent need for improved guidance services to adults seeking to rebuild their careers in a world where the job market is in permanent flux.
'It is not only the guidance side of things that needs to be got right, we also need to ensure that those providing the guidance, have access to reliable and easily understandable information about the kinds of skills and competences that will give them employability in the workplace of the future. As the recent National Economic and Social Council's (NESC) report highlights, the quality of labour market intelligence and the extent to which this intelligence is made available on a timely basis to schools and policy-makers is critical to ensuring that we avoid mismatches between supply and demand in the labour market in the future.'
According to Mr Moriarty, 'notwithstanding our current financial woes, careers' guidance, for school students and adults, must be reformed and appropriately resourced, as a matter of urgency. Otherwise, those leaving school and those seeking to rebuild their careers in the midst of the current economic tornado will be left stranded, when the economic storm inevitably abates.'
'If the scarce resources allocated to education and training are to be utilised to maximise learner education and life outcomes, then we must ensure that learners undertake those education and training programmes that enable them to make the most of their lives - thus contributing to social cohesion and national prosperity', said Mr Moriarty.
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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