THURLES, CO TIPPERARY: There were great celebrations at Tipperary Education and Training Board’s (ETB) Further Education and Training (FET) Centre in Archerstown, Thurles, last Friday (13 October) as an impressive expansion of education facilities was officially opened in conjunction with the launch of Tipperary ETB’s Statement of Strategy 2023-2027.

‘Phase 5’ of the FET Centre in Archerstown, located near Thurles Golf Club, was unveiled to hundreds of attendees on Friday morning. The new development includes additional training space, an innovative fashion workshop, state-of-the-art classrooms, a dedicated tutor hot desk area and an extension to the canteen.

The expanded facilities, built by Marlhill Construction, will help to meet the significant growth in demand for Further Education and Training (FET) courses in Tipperary, which has seen the Archerstown centre operating at 150 percent capacity in recent years. Over 400 apprentices attend the Archerstown FET Centre annually, and the additional classroom space will assist Tipperary ETB in responding to the upskilling needs of local employers across a variety of career clusters such as ICT (Information and Communications Technology), healthcare, hospitality and management.

As part of the event at Archerstown, Tipperary ETB’s Statement of Strategy 2023-2027 was also officially unveiled to the attendees, which included ETB staff, learners, ETB Board members, Tipperary Oireachtas members, school principals, school boards of management representatives, members of the construction team, and representatives from a variety of partner organisations including SOLAS, Tipperary County Council, universities in the region, and other partners both economic and social.

The new Statement of Strategy sets out strategic priorities for the organisation for the next five years. It is the roadmap for the development of Tipperary ETB and its services to meet the ever-changing education and training needs of its learners, the economy and the community.

10 years since it was formed as the amalgamation of the North Tipperary and South Tipperary VECs, Tipperary ETB is now Patron of Nenagh Community National School, the first multi-denominational primary school in Tipperary, and 10 post-primary schools across Tipperary. It also provides a wide range of programmes from Levels 1-6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) via a network of 17 Further Education and Training (FET) centres in the county, as well as a significant number of additional education programs in community settings.

The Statement of Strategy 2023-2027 establishes a clear framework in which to further develop education provision in Tipperary, including the upcoming development of FET College of the Future campuses in Thurles and Clonmel, in collaboration with TUS.

Chairperson of Tipperary ETB, Cllr Mary Hanna Hourigan, said it’s exciting to see education provision grow further in the county:

“The expansion here in Archerstown is a testament to Tipperary ETB’s commitment to providing quality education and training opportunities to the people of Tipperary and beyond. Our mission is to provide quality learning opportunities and support clear learner pathways.

“The additional training space is more than just bricks and mortar; it is a space where skills will be developed, and futures will be built. It provides us with the room to expand our course offerings, welcome more students, and diversify our programmes to meet the ever-evolving needs of our learners and apprentices.”

Chief Executive of Tipperary ETB, Bernadette Cullen, described the importance of the new Statement of Strategy:

“It is an exciting time for Tipperary ETB, with many of our schools and centres experiencing growth in demand from people seeking quality education provision. The opening of the expanded facilities in Archerstown is one of many infrastructural developments planned over the next number of years.  

“Placing students at the centre of all we do will continue to be our guiding principle, and we’ll work in partnership with key stakeholders to continue to have a positive impact on the social and economic life of all members of the community in Tipperary.    

“The Statement of Strategy 2023-2027 is comprehensive and future focused. It sets out our priorities for the next five years and will ensure that key strategic priorities are delivered for the people of Tipperary. I look forward to working with our stakeholders to make the plan a reality.”

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DURLAS, CO THIOBRAID ÁRANN: Bhí ceiliúradh mór ar siúl ag Ionad Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna (FET) Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Thiobraid Árann (BOO) i mBaile an Áirséaraigh, Durlas, Dé hAoine seo caite (an 13 Deireadh Fómhair) nuair a osclaíodh leathnú suntasach ar shaoráidí oideachais go hoifigiúil, i gcomhar le seoladh Ráiteas Straitéise Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Thiobraid Árann 2023-2027.

Nochtadh ‘Céim 5’ den Ionad FET i mBaile an Áiséaraigh, atá suite in aice le Club Gailf Dhurlais, do na céadta daoine a bhí i láthair maidin Dé hAoine. Tá spás oiliúna breise, ceardlann nuálach faisin, seomraí ranga úrscothacha, deasc shealaíochta atá tiomnaithe do theagascóirí agus síneadh ar an gceaintín san áireamh san fhorbairt nua.

Cabhróidh na saoráidí méadaithe, a thóg Marlhill Construction, le freastal ar an bhfás suntasach san éileamh ar chúrsaí Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna (FET) i dTiobraid Árann, áit a bhfuil ionad Bhaile an Áirséaraigh ag feidhmiú de réir 150 faoin gcéad dá acmhainn le blianta beaga anuas. Freastalaíonn breis is 400 printíseach ar Ionad FET Bhaile an Áirséaraigh gach bliain, agus cabhróidh an spás seomra ranga breise le BOO Thiobraid Árann freagairt do riachtanais uasoiliúna na bhfostóirí áitiúla thar raon de bhraislí gairme mar TFC (Teicneolaíocht Faisnéise agus Cumarsáide), cúram sláinte, fáilteachas agus bainistíocht.

Mar chuid den imeacht i mBaile an Áirséaraigh, nochtadh go hoifigiúil Ráiteas Straitéise Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Thiobraid Árann 2023-2027 don lucht freastail freisin, lenar áiríodh foireann BOO, foghlaimeoirí, comhaltaí Boird an BOO, comhaltaí Oireachtais Thiobraid Árann, príomhoidí scoile, ionadaithe na mbord bainistíochta scoile, baill den fhoireann tógála, agus ionadaithe ó eagraíochtaí comhpháirtíochta éagsúla lena n-áirítear SOLAS, Comhairle Contae Thiobraid Árann, agus ollscoileanna sa réigiún agus comhpháirtithe eacnamaíocha agus sóisialta eile.

Leagann an Ráiteas Straitéise nua amach tosaíochtaí straitéiseacha don eagraíocht do na cúig bliana amach romhainn. Is treochlár é d’fhorbairt BOO Thiobraid Árann agus a chuid seirbhísí chun freastal ar riachtanais oideachais agus oiliúna a fhoghlaimeoirí, an gheilleagair agus an phobail atá ag athrú de shíor.

10 mbliana ó bunaíodh é mar chónascadh de Choiste Gairmoideachais Thiobraid Árann Thuaidh agus Thiobraid Árann Theas, tá BOO Thiobraid Árann anois ina Phátrún ar Phobalscoil an Aonaigh, an chéad bhunscoil il-sainchreidmheach i dTiobraid Árann agus 10 n-iar-bhunscoil ar fud Thiobraid Árann. Chomh maith leis sin, cuireann sé raon leathan clár ar fáil ó Leibhéil 1-6 ar an gCreat Náisiúnta Cáilíochtaí (NFQ) trí líonra de 17 ionad Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna (FET) sa chontae, chomh maith le líon suntasach de chláir oideachais breise i suíomhanna pobail.

Bunaíonn an Ráiteas Straitéise 2023-2027 creat soiléir chun tuilleadh forbartha a dhéanamh ar an soláthar oideachais i dTiobraid Árann, lena n-áirítear an fhorbairt atá le teacht ar champais FET Choláiste na Todhchaí i nDurlas agus i gCluain Meala, i gcomhar le TUS.

Dúirt Cathaoirleach BOO Thiobraid Árann, an Comhairleoir Mary Hanna Hourigan, go bhfuil sé spreagúil an soláthar oideachais a fheiceáil agus é ag fás sa chontae:

“Is léiriú é an leathnú anseo i mBaile an Áirséaraigh ar thiomantas BOO Thiobraid Árann deiseanna oideachais agus oiliúna ar ardchaighdeáin a sholáthar do mhuintir Thiobraid Árann agus níos faide i gcéin. Is é an misean atá againn deiseanna foghlama ar ardchaighdeán a sholáthar agus tacú le conairí soiléire foghlaimeoirí.

“Tá níos mó i gceist leis an spás oiliúna breise ná brící agus moirtéal; is spás é ina bhforbrófar scileanna, agus ina dtógfar todhchaíochtaí. Cuireann sé an deis ar fáil dúinn ár dtairiscintí cúrsa a leathnú, fáilte a chur roimh níos mó mac léinn, agus ár gcláir a éagsúlú chun freastal ar riachtanais ár bhfoghlaimeoirí agus ár bprintíseach a bhíonn ag síorathrú.”

Rinne Príomhfheidhmeannach BOO Thiobraid Árann, Bernadette Cullen, cur síos ar thábhacht an Ráitis Straitéise nua:

“Is am iontach é do Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Thiobraid Árann, agus tá méadú ag teacht ar an éileamh ó dhaoine atá ag lorg soláthar oideachais ar ardchaighdeán ar go leor dár scoileanna agus dár n-ionaid. Tá oscailt na n-áiseanna méadaithe i mBaile an Áirséaraigh ar cheann de go leor forbairtí bonneagair atá beartaithe le haghaidh na mblianta atá le teacht.

“Leanfar mar threoirphrionsabal dúinn mic léinn a chur i gcroílár gach rud a dhéanaimid, agus oibreoimid i gcomhpháirtíocht le príomhpháirtithe leasmhara chun leanúint le tionchar dearfach a bheith againn ar shaol sóisialta agus eacnamaíoch gach ball den phobal i dTiobraid Árann.

“Tá an Ráiteas Straitéise 2023-2027 cuimsitheach agus dírithe ar an todhchaí. Leagann sé amach ár dtosaíochtaí do na cúig bliana amach romhainn agus cinnteoidh sé go ndéanfar príomhthosaíochtaí straitéiseacha a sheachadadh do mhuintir Thiobraid Árann. Táim ag tnúth le bheith ag obair lenár bpáirtithe leasmhara chun an plean a thabhairt i gcrích.”

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