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Press release

Department of Education Inspectorate publishes thematic report on findings from evaluations of Youthreach provision

The Inspectorate of the Department of Education today published a thematic report on the findings from evaluations of Youthreach provision carried out in 2023.

Youthreach is the Department of Further and Higher Education Research Innovation and Science’s (DFHERIS) main response to supporting young people, aged between sixteen and twenty years of age, who leave school before completing the Leaving Certificate. Youthreach is offered by 104 Centres for Education and 31 Community Training Centres.

The report, Young People on Alternative Educational and Training Pathways Evaluation of Youthreach Provision, draws on findings from inspection visits to eight Centres for Education and one Community Training Centres.

The Inspectorate’s report recognises the good training and learning opportunities provided in the centres, the high-quality holistic supports in place and the efforts made by the leadership and staff of the centres to develop each young person’s sense of connection and belonging in the centres. Other key strengths of provision in the Centres for Education and Community Training Centres that were evaluated include the below:

  • The broad range of programmes available for young people,
  • The inclusive and learner-focused environments provided for young people,
  • The high levels of satisfaction with the work of the centres expressed by parents and by the young people themselves and
  • The significant efforts made by the leadership and staff of the centres to encourage young people to believe in themselves, to be ambitious and to achieve their potential.

The report also highlights areas for improvement in Centres for Education and Community Training Centres, including those outlined below:

  • The induction programme in most centres did not always capture the interests, strengths and needs of the young people
  • The procedures in place to support the development of young people’s skills and abilities in literacy and numeracy were not always effective
  • The attendance of young people required improvement in most centres. The report acknowledges that reasons for poor attendance were varied and complex. It highlights a need for clear strategies for promoting good attendance on the Youthreach programme and for each centre to have adequate systems in place to monitor and track attendance levels.
  • Guidance and planning for the next stages in the young people’s education is very important for young people on the Youthreach programme. Not all centres had access to an appropriately qualified guidance counsellor and not all centres had good systems in place to help young people to plan for the next stages of their educational journey.

Publishing the report, Chief Inspector Yvonne Keating, said:

“This Inspectorate report acknowledges the good practice in many Centres for Education and Community Training Centres. The efforts made by the staff to create inclusive environments and to support all young people to reengage with education are particularly encouraging. The report also highlights some important areas that require improvement. These include the need to support all young people to develop their literacy and numeracy skills and to improve the attendance of young people on the Youthreach programme. The Inspectorate is committed to supporting centres, ETBs and all other stakeholders in implementing these recommendations.”

Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD, welcomed the publication of the report, saying:

“Provision for young people who leave school before completing the Leaving Certificate is important in ensuring that all young people have opportunities to succeed and reach their potential. I am particularly pleased that this report highlights good practice in many of the centres. I also welcome the report’s recommendations, which will be very useful as the Government, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and my Department work collectively to improve the learning experience for all young people.”

The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan TD, also welcomed the publication of the Inspectorate report, saying:

“This report on Youthreach provision highlights important strengths and areas where further work is needed. It is heartening to read about the high levels of satisfaction that parents and young people expressed about the Youthreach programme. The work of the centres in encouraging young people’s self-belief and in developing the skills they require to continue in education is also very important. My officials will engage with all stakeholders to see how best we can implement the recommendations and continue to develop Youthreach provision.”

The full report is available here.

For further information please email Inspectorate@education.gov.ie.

ENDS

Further information on Youthreach provision in Centres for Education and Community Training Centres

• Youthreach is a two-year education, training and work experience programme for young people, aged between sixteen and twenty years of age, who have left school before completing the Leaving Certificate. The Youthreach programme places a particular emphasis on personal development, training opportunities, practical work experience and skill development. It aims to promote the personal and social development of young people and to assist them find appropriate pathways to further education or to the world of work.

• In 2023, one hundred and four Centres of Education and thirty-one Community Training Centres offered the Youthreach programme.

• Further information is available here.