Overall college enrolments for Teagasc level 5, level 6, and Teagasc linked higher education courses in agriculture, horticulture, equine and forestry for the 2016/17 academic year stand at 1,873. While 5% lower than for 2015, overall enrolments remain at 2014 and 2013 levels.
Head of education at Teagasc Tony Pettit said: “Provisional enrolment data for the entry level 5 certificate in agriculture, indicate that 570 students commenced their studies, a decline of about 10% relative to the 2015/16 academic year. These are mostly school leavers going to the 4 Teagasc and 3 private colleges.
Tony Pettit said: “Despite fluctuations in enrolments across programmes total combined enrolments are broadly comparable with recent years. However the improving employment opportunities leading to an upsurge in enrolments in other sectors such as craft apprenticeship programmes indicate enrolments to agricultural colleges are beyond their exceptional peak of recent years.”
The demand for adult Green cert courses for the distance education and part time options remains exceptionally high, he said: “Teagasc expect to have accommodated nearly 4,400 enrolees to the adult Green Cert programme in the period from autumn 2014 to the end of 2016.
A further 3,600 people who have formally logged their interest in the Teagasc Green cert programme have yet to be accommodated.”
