Staff appointment delays are ‘hurting schools’

STATE education bodies are being restricted from expanding and improving services because of Department of Education delays appointing key staff, a conference heard yesterday.

Only 13 of the 33 city and county Vocational Education Committees (VECs) have education officers, with three more to be appointed in January.

Their work is to oversee the work of schools, further education colleges, Youthreach centres, Traveller training centres, adult education programmes and other VEC schemes.