Funding boost for 30,000 PLC students

IMPROVED services should be in place for almost 30,000 students in further education colleges next year following a breakthrough in government talks.

The Irish Examiner has learned details of a draft agreement this week between the Department of Education and representatives of teachers and managers in the Post Leaving Certificate sector, following intensive negotiations over the past two years.

The changes will involve an increase in funding to colleges from €515 to €650 for every further education student, or an extra €4 million a year for the sector, calculated on its 29,000 students.