Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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Yes. The Minister mentioned career guidance teachers. They have shown leadership on this issue. Traditionally, some schools are better than others at promoting apprenticeships at a whole-school level. It is unfair to directly blame any career guidance teacher but some schools have a culture of apprenticeships. The school I attended was known as "the tech" at the time and such schools were known for providing apprenticeship training. A lot of people went into apprenticeships and that was the tradition of the school I attended. Some schools still place a greater focus on academic attainment, which is not the fault of career guidance teachers. Is there more collaboration to break down barriers and change that mindset?