Ninth Level Ireland

“There has been a creeping sense among students over the past number of years that the higher education sector in Ireland is moving its focus from education to profit. From the wave of rent increases across campuses earlier this year to the repeated fee increases and exploitation of international students, the emerging trend is that third-level institutions are now seen as businesses, with students as their customers …” (more)

[Cian Kelly-Lyth, Irish Times, 18 September]

“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD and Minister of State for Further Education Niall Collins TD have today launched the National Further Education and Training Strategy. The strategy sets out a five-year roadmap for the sector which is built around three key pillars …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 16 July]

“Simon Harris wants to take the focus off CAO points and university degrees as the main goal of school-leavers. The Further and Higher Education Minister wants as much discussion about apprenticeships and other forms of learning and training as paths to good careers and fulfilling lives …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 16 July]

“Students who first complete further education courses are significantly more likely to graduate from third-level degree courses, new research suggests. Solas, the umbrella body for the further education sector, says the latest data shows that up to 75% of students with a foundation in a Post-Leaving Cert (PLC) course who move on to higher education complete their degree …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 11 March]

“The obsession with university education in Ireland means many school leavers are bypassing more suitable vocational routes, according to the new chief of the State body for further education and training. Andrew Brownlee, who takes over as chief executive of Solas on Monday, said higher education has played a massive and positive role in the transformation of the country …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 2 September]

“Graduates from apprenticeships and Post-Leaving Cert (PLC) courses are rated as highly as graduates from universities and third-level colleges, according to a major new study. The findings are contained in a survey of more than 700 employers carried out last year by education authorities, which is due to be published soon …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 14 January]

“Funding for further education courses is to be linked with high performance under a new funding model to be rolled out shortly. More than 200,000 people participate in further education courses each year, including school-leavers and adults seeking ‘second chance’ education. However, in a report over the summer the Department of Public Expenditure found there was a ‘fragmented’ and “disjointed” approach to the way more than €800 million was being spent in the sector …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 11 October]

“There is a ‘fragmented’ and ‘disjointed’ approach to the way more than €800 million is being spent on further education courses, a Government review has found. More than 200,000 people participate in further education courses each year, including school-leavers and adults seeking ‘second chance’ education …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 3 August]

“Students in further education and training courses face significant barriers progressing on to third level, new research shows. This is despite a Government policy of increasing the number of students who have completed training or post-Leaving Cert courses in colleges and universities …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 21 October]

“The Government’s further education and training strategy was devised at the height of the economic crisis in 2012, to upskill the labour force and so drive economic and employment growth. This was designed to increase productivity, leading to more secure employment and reduce unemployment …” (more)

[Brian Mooney, Irish Times, 15 September]

“Courses in the further education and training (FET) sector are to be measured against ‘performance-based outcomes’ under a new funding model to be piloted later this year. Solas, the State agency regulating FET, plans to direct funding ‘where it’s going to be most effective’…” (more)

[Joe Humphreys, Irish Times, 8 June]

“A teachers’ leader has warned that courses taken by about 50,000 post-Leaving certificate students and the unemployed every year run the risk of being dumbed down because of rationalisation in the further education and training sector …” (more)

[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 10 April]

“Further education courses which are underperforming, by failing to attract students or match them with job opportunities, will have their funding cut under an eagerly awaited five-year strategy for the sector …” (more)

[Joe Humphreys, Irish Times, 12 May]

“Further Education and Training needs to be seen as a strong and valid alternative to Higher Education. The first ever strategy for the Further Education and Training FET sector is being launched by the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn TD, and Minister of State for Training and Skills Ciarán Cannon TD …” (more)

[Department of Education and Skills, 12 May]

“Ruairi Quinn enraged teachers again by announcing plans to keep some colleges open all year round. The Education Minister revealed he wants certain courses to run on a 12-month cycle but he never consulted unions before detailing the radical proposals …” (more)

[Sarah Bardon, Irish Mirror, 23 April]

“Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn opened up a fresh conflict with teachers yesterday by telling those in further education they will have to work during the summer under a major reform of the sector …” (more)

[Joe Humphreys and Peter McGuire, Irish Times, 24 April]

“The new Further Education and Training Authority Solas is replacing An Foras Áiseanna Saothair, now that the Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn TD, has signed the order for its establishment …” (more)

[TheJournal.ie, 29 October]

“Fears over education budget cuts will occupy delegates today at the first congress of the newly formed Education and Training Boards Ireland …” (more)

[Dick Ahlstrom, Irish Times, 17 September]

“The €370m further education and training sector could face a major change in focus as a review examines how well it is addressing the needs of the unemployed. The training requirements of those who have been unemployed long-term are coming in for particular scrutiny …” (more)

[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 12 August]

“Government plans to increase the student to teacher ratio in the further education sector will result in the loss of up to 100 teachers in Dublin and 400 teachers nationally, a protest in Dublin heard today …” (more)

[Éanna Ó Caollaí, Irish Times, 26 April]