Spotlight on further education sector

The €370m further education and training sector could face a major change in focus as a review examines how well it is addressing the needs of the unemployed.

The training requirements of those who have been unemployed long-term are coming in for particular scrutiny in the study by the National Economic and Social Council (NESC). It was asked in May to conduct the review by the Department of Education, which said the exercise is part of its commitments to the troika.

The further education and training (FET) sector caters for tens of thousands of students annually. Among the main programmes are adult literacy, Youthreach for early school leavers, community education and post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses, mostly run by the 16 education and training boards (ETBs).