VECs predicted to take primary education role

PRIMARY schools could and probably will be run in the future by Vocational Education Committees (VECs), the head of their umbrella organisation suggested yesterday.

Michael Moriarty, general secretary of the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA), told its annual congress that talks are already taking place with the Catholic hierarchy and the multi-denominational schools group Educate Together to explore ways of improving cooperation between the various sectors.

The country’s 33 city and county VECs already operate 247 vocational schools and community colleges, and dozens of further education colleges offering post-Leaving Certificate courses.