Cutbacks set to hit school programmes

THE day-to-day operation of transition year and other secondary school programmes look set to be hit by cutbacks.

At least 700 of the country’s 750 second level schools offer either Transition Year, Leaving Certificate Applied or the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme to their students. Each school is allowed toappoint a teacher as programme co-ordinator, who is entitled to a reduction of up to six hours in their teaching duties to allow them do the work.

But schools are still waiting to hear from the Department of Education if they will pay for the part-time teachers to cover these hours.