Councillor criticises ‘duplication’ and ‘privatisation’ of education

Councillor criticises ‘duplication’ and ‘privatisation’ of education


Anton McNulty
antonmcnulty@mayonews.ie

A MEMBER of Mayo VEC has warned against the ‘privatisation of education’ after it was revealed that both the VEC and a private company employed by FÁS were offering the same course and qualifications in Castlebar.
The issue was flagged at last week’s meeting of Mayo VEC where the CEO Dr Katie Sweeney informed the members that the board were lodging an appeal with the Department of Education against the pupil teacher ratio cuts for PLC courses.
Dr Sweeney said that despite the proposed cuts, there was a ‘duplication’ of courses in Castlebar and explained that an accredited course offered by Castlebar College of Further Education was being offered in another centre ‘five minutes apart’.
The Mayo News learned that a FETAC Level 5 Full Time course in Healthcare Support offered by Castlebar College of Further Education was also offered by FÁS in Castlebar through a Dublin-based company .
The VEC’s are due to be replaced by Education and Training Boards (ETB) which will take over the running of FÁS training centres when FÁS is disbanded.
Sinn Féin Castlebar Town Councillor, Therese Ruane said this was the beginning of the ‘privatisation of education’ and she was worried that the ‘holistic approach to education’ will be replaced by training delivered by the private sector.
“FÁS advertised the same course as on offer in Castlebar College of Further Education and I would argue there is a duplication of courses. The FÁS course is run by a private training company from Dublin while the PLC course is by qualified learners and educators. I do believe that this is the start of the privatisation of education,” Cllr Ruane told The Mayo News.
Dr Sweeney commented in the meeting the new Bill relating to ETB’s mentioned just training boards and Cllr Ruane hopes that education is not overlooked in favour of training.
“My worry is that education is being privatised and that ‘training’ is replacing ‘education’ ....  where ‘once-off packages or programmes’ are being delivered by trainers from a private company. This is really worrying and we need to stand up and oppose this.
“Education is getting lost in all this. My worry is that people are being trained for economy rather than educated for society. Education is not training, it is more holistic, broader and prepares people to become full and active members of society. I fear we are now on the slippery slope towards the privatisation of education,” she concluded.
Since 2001 the number of Higher Education places offered on the basis of a FETAC qualification has increased from 599 in 2001 to 3,065 in 2012.
Dr Sweeney told last week’s meeting that the completion rates of PLC students was at 77-80 per cent which was comparable to third level education. She said the VEC were opposing the change in public teacher ratio which she said was very worrying at a time when there was so much unemployment and that those who are unable to get on PLC courses will end up on the live register.
Cllr Ruane said the increase in the ratio will have a devastating affect on adult learning and the VEC and will also result in the loss of teaching jobs.
Fianna FΡil councillor MicheΡl McNamara also criticised the lack of discussion on the issue saying that unemployed people will remain unemployment without the PLC course. Cllr Johnnie O’Malley also commented that it was a ‘backward step’ while chairman, Cllr Jarlath Munnelly said that everyone was in agreement on the issue.

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