CAO website now includes apprenticeship programmes
For the first time the CAO website includes apprenticeship opportunities for school leavers.
The website, which went live today at 12pm, includes options across higher education, further education and training, and apprenticeships for school leavers and other applicants.
The inclusion of apprenticeship opportunities has been welcomed by Minister of State Peter Burke, who says that it reflects recent changes in the educational sector.
“The changes to the CAO website from my colleague Minister Simon Harris will allow students to see the full range of third-level options in one place for the first time.
“Students across Westmeath will now have access to over 400 Post Leaving Cert (PLC) courses and 62 apprenticeship programmes, as well as university options, on the enhanced CAO portal. This is vital as it shows that there are worthwhile alternatives to third level which are accessible in the same way as universities. Different students have different needs, and for too long I believe we have put too much emphasis on third level, to the detriment of other similarly important routes. Up to recently, sometimes the narrative was that it was third level or nothing, which is not the case.
“Access to education for all is a key priority for Fine Gael in Government and this is just one more step in breaking down the barriers to third level. As part of last month’s Budget 2022, Minister Harris announced the abolition of the €200 course levy, which will apply to all PLC courses in Longford Westmeath ETB from next September.
“The inclusion of apprenticeships on the CAO website speaks to the societal shift that has occurred over the past few years. Students, teachers and parents recognise there is so much more than university to consider when thinking about life post Leaving Cert.
“This is a significant step in making our third level sector a more inclusive environment which caters to the needs and skills of all school-leavers. It is a change which reflects education, of some form or another, is for all – but the ‘one size fits all’ model is now a thing of the past.”
Minister Harris said: “I really want to pay tribute to the CAO, Solas and ETBI for coming together to bring this to this point. This is an important day for this Department and our third level sector.
“Across the country over the next few months, Leaving Cert students will be considering their next steps in life. We have so many industries offering diverse and interesting careers and there are so many ways to get there. If full time education isn’t for you, then we have options that are."