Government cap on PLC numbers ‘stifling colleges’

THE Government has been accused of stifling the ability of further education colleges to respond to training needs in industry by freezing student numbers.

The VEC-run colleges have had enrolments on post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses capped at the same number as last year by the Department of Education, at just under 29,000.

Qualifications from such courses can help workers upgrade skills, improve people’s job prospects and provide early school-leavers an opportunity to gain entry to third-level education.