Dr. Seamus McGuinness:

The benefit of the post-compulsory education system in the Republic is its clarity, its simplicity and the fact that, if you undertake a PLC course or apprenticeship, you can see your current level of education and how to map a path through higher education and lifelong learning. On the issue in the North, I live in Newry and know Southern Regional College. What it does is excellent but the system is very difficult to navigate. Our study has shown that, in the further education system in the North, the colleges are competing against each other and against schools, because the further education colleges provide A levels, which are traditionally provided in schools. The schools are now providing vocational courses such as those traditionally provided in the further education colleges. It is an issue of higher levels of complexity within the further education system in the North than within the system in the South, where the PLC system is very clear, everybody knows about it and it is highly accessible.

Then there is the issue of the types of courses that are available, the extent to which they are accessible in every college and the question of geographic spread. The fact that further education attainment levels are three levels higher in the Republic than they are in the North tells us that there is a problem with capacity within the further education system in the North and that there is a gap with regard to the number of places. It looks as if substantial investment is needed in that space. Again, there is a job to be done. There has also been a perception that further education is a Cinderella. Everybody wants their sons and daughters to go to university and it is seen as some sort of failure to do further education. SOLAS has done a lot of work over recent years to raise the profile of further education and PLC courses in the South. The work we have been doing in evaluating these programmes has given evidence to young people and their parents showing that they are worthwhile programmes that will enhance their employability and which offer a route into higher education if they choose to follow it.

There is a difference between the systems with regard to simplicity, clarity, the availability of places and the reputational aspects. There is a gap there as well.