Further Education and Training (FET) options and Apprenticeship information is available to Leaving Certificate students through the CAO for the first time ever this year.
Seventeen FET options are available across Co Donegal through Donegal ETB’s FET Service. These include Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) and Traineeship courses.
Speaking about the inclusion of FET options on the CAO, Donegal ETB’s Director of Further Education and Training, Cróna Gallagher (pictured above) said, “This is an important milestone in education in Ireland – for the first time young people will have an opportunity to choose further education and training options directly through the CAO portal.
“The equal promotion of all education pathways is a critical step in the recognition of FET and is to be warmly welcomed. It is intended that this pilot project will be further developed and that the course offerings from FET on the portal will be extended and enhanced in the coming years.”
Ten PLC courses are available in three locations in Killybegs (St Catherine’s Vocational School), Letterkenny (Errigal College) and Stranorlar (Finn Valley College) and include Animal Care; Art, Craft and Design; Business Administration; Business Studies; Construction Technology; Early Childhood Care and Education; Health Service Skills; Nursing Studies and Sports, Recreation and Exercise.
Seven Traineeships are also available across the county and include Business and Professional Administration, Donegal Weaving, Healthcare Support, Intellectual Disability Studies with Special Needs, Outdoor Activity Instructor, and two new Traineeships in Data Science and International Trade with Business.
Chief Executive of Donegal ETB Anne McHugh, in welcoming this development said, “The inclusion of FET options along with information on apprenticeships on this year’s CAO is a very welcome development. I’m delighted that a range of courses from our FET Service are included. This means the Leaving Certificate class of 2022 in Donegal have a wide range of free or low-cost options on their doorstep which will provide them with exciting career opportunities or fast track them to third level; our PLC students, for example, have the highest progression rate to third level in the country out of all PLC providers.
“I would strongly encourage students to talk to their Guidance Counsellor about FET and apprenticeship options or get in touch with our Adult Guidance and Information Service on 074 91 78088 or our FET Recruitment Officer Tara McGuire on 074 91 20500 for further information.”
All FET and third level options as well as information on apprenticeships can be accessed on the CAO at http://www.cao.ie/options.
