Wealth of FET courses available for school leavers at Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board

SCHOOL leavers should consider the broad range of local Further Education and Training (FET) courses that are on offer at Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (ETB) after receiving their Leaving Certificate results on Friday last

Further Education and Training options offer an opportunity for students to leave the points race behind them and provide a pathway for students to build a career that suits them, that’s according to SOLAS, the state agency responsible for FET in Ireland.

FET courses for school leavers, at levels 5 and 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), open up routes to university and prepare students for successful careers in countless cutting-edge industries.

SOLAS, together with the 16 ETBs across Ireland, is leading transformation across the sector with FET now considered a valuable and recognised post-secondary learning pathway, outside of the points system. School leavers continue to be drawn to the wealth of smart choices available in every county that are well positioned to lead Leaving Certificate students on to a world of exciting careers.

Commenting on the expansive range of local Further Education and Training opportunities available for school leavers in Limerick and Clare, Director of FET at Limerick and Clare ETB, Paul Patton, said: 

“There have never been more routes available to prepare those receiving their Leaving Certificate results for the career they want after school. This year, school leavers in our region can find an endless range of FET courses outside of the points system at our multi-campus College of FET. We deliver courses in the local communities of Limerick and Clare that offer clear pathways for learners to study at degree level or to direct employment in an array of exciting careers. Our FET courses can also provide school leavers with that extra time to develop their confidence and take stock of what kind of career they really want, all while gaining a recognised qualification.”

READ MORE: Roadshow aims to help stamp out Limerick city gum litter

Speaking on the growth of demand for Further Education and Training across the country, Executive Director for Transformation at SOLAS, Nessa White, said: 

“Leaving Certificate students can find a range of exciting opportunities through FET, with software development, beauty therapy, cyber security and engineering just a sample of the courses that are on offer to school leavers who received their Leaving Certificate results on Friday. There are so many options to explore, with many courses remaining open for application until the end of the summer.”

“SOLAS has seen unprecedented growth and demand for Further Education and Training (FET) in 2023, where the learner base growing by around 17.2% from 2022 to 2023. Last year alone, one in ten adults in Ireland, over 400,000 people were engaged in FET and apprenticeship activity last year. FET is also becoming a prime destination for school leavers, with increasing numbers of learners choosing this pathway to achieve the careers of their choice.”

Commenting on the endless Further Education and Training courses available nationwide, Education and Training Board (ETB) network, General Secretary at Education and Training Boards Ireland, Paddy Lavelle, concluded:

"We encourage school leavers to explore the vast variety of opportunities that FET has to offer in every county across Ireland. Local provision through 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) across the country provides school leavers with the choice to stay close to home while they take that next step on their learning journey.” 

“In addition to the great variety of FET courses on offer outside of the points system, as a sector we have strengthened Further Education to Higher Education Pathways with an expanded number of Tertiary Degrees on offer by the National Tertiary Office providing accessible pathways from Further Education to university. For anyone who is still unsure about their next steps after school, I welcome them to discover FET courses available through their local ETB today.” 

School leavers can explore local FET courses on offer at collegeofFET.ie