This article is from page 74 of the 2008-12-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 74 JPG
FIVE students who returned to edu- cation in St. John Bosco Community College, Kildysart, have been award- ed Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) awards in business studies, computer applications and special needs assist- ant training.
The college offers the business studies course certified by the Fur- ther Education and Training Awards Council of Ireland (FETAC). Re- cipients of certificates were Patricia Kelly, Kildysart; Mary McMahon, Ballyea; Stephanie McNamara, Lis- sycasey; Karina Mescal, Cooraclare, and Lorna Wallace, Cranny.
The course is co-ordinated by Betty Culligan and her co-tutors are Marie O’Callaghan, Mona Garry and Mairéad Doohan.
FETAC is the statutory body set up in 2001 to create opportunities for all learners in further education to have their achievements recognised nationally and internationally.
Marion Coughlan Flynn, col- lege principal, said it was a huge achievement on everyone’s part. Being awarded a FETAC certificate indicated that one had reached the precise standard. She complimented the students on their hard work and co-operation despite also having responsibilities at home. She also thanked the four teachers for their commitment and dedication to the Fe) acter
The graduating students would be worthy ambassadors for the Kildysart
course in years to come, and she en- couraged them to encourage others to take on a PLC experience, since they themselves had enjoyed and benefited so much from one.
FETAC representative Donal Grif- fin presented the certificates and sug- gested that the mature students might consider as one option the setting up small business. Big business often started from small initiative. There was also the option of taking up modules in other FETAC opportuni- ties for further study and training.
FETAC awards were a relatively new element in Irish education and gave a framework to people to start back on a ladder and afforded step- ping stones to progress through education. It was a huge and very positive change for all involved and contrasted greatly with previous times when no way back into educa- tion was possible if one stopped at a particular point. He was delighted that the college had become involved in that change.
He also complimented the four teachers who managed and pro- gressed the course and said he hoped the students would have found an ap- petite for further learning, whether in St. John Bosco College or elsewhere, to build on what they had achieved.