Education and Training Board
An Education and Training Board (ETB) (Irish: Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna) is a statutory regional education and training authority in the Republic of Ireland that operates and administers a large proportion of secondary education, most further and adult education and a growing number of primary education schools in the state.
ETBs came into existence on 1 July 2013 through the enactment of the Education and Training Boards Act 2013, when they replaced the existing system of Vocational Education Committees (VECs) that had been in place since 1930.[1] In addition to taking over the responsibilities of VECs, ETBs took on the training functions of Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS), the national training and employment authority, when it was dissolved in 2013 (Further Education and Training Act 2013).[2] This Act also created SOLAS (Official Website), the statutory organisation responsible for funding, planning and coordinating Further Education and Training (FET) in Ireland, and tasked with building the identity and values of a world-class, integrated FET sector responsive to the needs of learners and the requirements of a changed and changing economy.
Following the commencement of the ETB Act 2013 and the transfer of the former FÁS training centres to ETBs, they became statutorily responsible for the provision of state-funded Further Education and Training (FET) in Ireland. They deliver a range of programmes and courses at levels 1 to 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), as well as traineeships and apprenticeships. In addition to FET provision, ETBs deliver a wide range of services across many educational levels throughout Ireland. They operate over 270 second-level schools, Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) colleges, vocational training centres, and over 500 education centres. ETBs are trustees of 92 Community Colleges. They also manage a growing number of multi-faith primary-level Community National Schools. ETBs are involved in prison education, Youthreach programmes, Youth Work, Back to Education Initiatives (BTEI), Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS), workplace learning programmes, outdoor education and training, adult and community education, and other educational programmes. There are ETB-run centres, schools or colleges in every corner of Ireland.
ETBs are represented at national and European level by Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI).
Number and constitution
There are 16 ETBS, replacing 33 VECs. On formation the existing VEC members became members of the replacement boards. The membership changed following the next Irish local government elections, in spring 2014.[2]
Each board has 21 members:
- 12 local authority representatives
- 2 staff representatives
- 2 parents’ representatives
- 5 members from bodies representing community/business interests: One community/business interest representative must be drawn from business, industry and employers; one from learners’ representative bodies and one must be representative of "bodies connected to school management or leadership".[1][2]
| ETB | Former VECs | Location of headquarters | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cavan and Monaghan ETB | County Cavan VEC, County Monaghan VEC |
Monaghan, sub-office in Cavan Town | www.cmetb.ie (domain registered but not in use as of 3 July 2013) |
| City of Dublin ETB | City of Dublin VEC | Ballsbridge | www.cdetb.ie |
| Cork ETB | City of Cork VEC, County Cork VEC |
Greater Cork | www.corketb.ie |
| Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB | County Dublin VEC, Dún Laoghaire VEC |
Tallaght | www.ddletb.ie |
| Donegal ETB | County Donegal VEC | Letterkenny | www.donegaletb.ie |
| Galway and Roscommon ETB | City of Galway VEC, County Galway VEC, County Roscommon VEC |
Athenry, sub-office in Roscommon Town | www.gretb.ie |
| Kerry ETB | County Kerry VEC | Tralee | www.kerryetb.ie |
| Kildare and Wicklow ETB | County Kildare VEC, County Wicklow VEC |
Naas with sub-office in Wicklow | www.kwetb.ie |
| Kilkenny and Carlow ETB | County Carlow VEC, County Kilkenny VEC |
Carlow Town | www.kcetb.ie (domain registered but not in use as of 4 July 2013) |
| Laois and Offaly ETB | County Laois VEC, County Offaly VEC |
Portlaoise | www.laoisoffalyetb.ie (domain registered but not in use as of 4 July 2013) |
| Limerick and Clare ETB | City of Limerick VEC, County Limerick VEC, County Clare VEC |
Greater Limerick | As of 3 July 2013 the existing VEC websites, www.clvec.ie , www.limerickvec.ie and www.clarevec.ie remain in operation while a dedicated website is being completed.[3] |
| Longford and Westmeath ETB | County Longford VEC, County Westmeath VEC |
Mullingar | As of 4 July 2013 the two VEC websites www.longfordvec.com and www.westmeathvec.ie continue in operation while a new website is developed. |
| Louth and Meath ETB | County Louth VEC, County Meath VEC |
Drogheda | www.lmetb.ie (domain registered but not in use as of 4 July 2013) |
| Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim ETB | County Leitrim VEC, County Mayo VEC, County Sligo VEC |
Castlebar, sub-offices in Sligo and Carrick-on-Shannon | www.msletb.ie |
| Tipperary ETB | North Tipperary VEC, South Tipperary VEC |
Nenagh with sub-office in Clonmel | The VEC websites www.tippsouthvec.ie and www.tippnorthvec.ie continue in use until the development of a dedicated website. |
| Wexford and Waterford ETB | County Wexford VEC, County Waterford VEC, City of Waterford VEC |
Wexford, with sub-offices in Dungarvan and Waterford | www.wwetb.ie (domain registered but not in use as of 3 July 2013) |
External links
- "Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI)". Retrieved 4 July 2013.
References
- 1 2 "Education and Training Boards replace VECs to save €2m a year". Irish Examiner. 1 July 2013. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
- 1 2 3 "01 July, 2013- Education and Training Boards replace VECs". Department of Education and Skills. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
- ↑ "Home". County Limerick VEC. Retrieved 3 July 2013.