Full-time courses are available on the VTOS & Youthreach programmes. Part-time courses are available on the Adult Basic Education & Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) programmes.

A student must be 16 years of age to enrol in an Adult Basic Education or a Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) programme.

Enrolment in a Youthreach programme is also 16 years of age.

You must be 21 years of age to enrol in a VTOS programme.

No, normally all of our courses take place in the Further Education and Training Centre Athy.

Certification is available at a range of levels including QQI Levels 1 to 6.

There are study spaces, and computer spaces available for study.

There are canteen areas in the adult education area and the Youthreach area. There are tea and coffee making facilities available, but students bring in their own lunch.

Courses are conducted in small groups, allowing additional time for student support. Students who need learning supports should make their co-ordinator aware at the application stage, and the organisation will endeavour to provide the necessary learning supports.

Yes, there are some night classes available in Adult Basic Education & the BTEI Programme. Details are available in the centre.

You may qualify if you wish to improve your basic skills for everyday living and further education

or

you are unemployed and wish to improve your employability skills

or

you are employed on a CE scheme

You are welcome to drop into the centre to find out what literacy programmes are held in Athy FETC that could meet your needs. Then contact the Adult Literacy Organiser in the centre to make an appointment to discuss the course most suitable for your level.

You must be:

Over 21 years of age and in receipt of one of the following:

• Jobseekers Allowance/Benefit (or signing for credits) for 6 months or more (Time spent on CE Scheme, FAS Course or TUS scheme can count towards the 6-month stipulation).

• One Parent Family Allowance for 6 months or more.

• Adult Dependant Allowance for 6 months or more.

• Disability Allowance / Invalidity Pension for 6 months or more.

• Be signing for credits for a minimum of six months.

or

• Have been made recently redundant.

• Have been granted refugee status or subsidiary protection.

Participants in receipt of some of Jobseekers allowance or Jobseekers benefit will receive training allowance which is the equivalent of their social welfare payment.

• Courses are provided free of charge.

• A weekly lunch allowance of €4.00 per week is payable.

• A weekly travel allowance is payable if a participant has to travel over 3 miles.

Courses include a wide range of subjects and activities.

• Certification is available at a QQI Level 4 and Level 5 Certificates.

• All programmes are conducted over a one-year duration. Students can participate in VTOS programmes for a maximum of 2 years.

The BTEI provides part-time Further Education programmes for young people and adults.  It aims is to give participants an opportunity to combine a return to learning with family, work and other responsibilities.

Anyone who has left full-time education can take part in a course being offered, but priority will be given to those with less than Leaving Certificate level qualifications.

Courses lead to a range of accreditation at levels 1-6 on the National Framework of Qualifications. Flexible approaches will allow you to build up credits over time and achieve recognised qualifications.

The participants eligible for free tuition are people who (or their dependents):

• Have less than Leaving Certificate level qualifications or
• Are getting a jobseeker's payment or means-tested social welfare payment (there is a list of eligible payments in the BTEI Operational Guidelines (pdf) or
• Are getting Working Family Payment (formerly known as Family Income Supplement) or
• Have a medical card or
• Are eligible to participate on VTOS or Youthreach

All other participants are charged a fee. For information about fees, you should contact Athy FETC.

Youthreach is a full-time programme, usually over two years. It leads to awards typically at level 3 and 4 on the QQI framework of qualifications.

The Youthreach programme is for young people aged 16-20 years who have left school early.

If you are over 16 you will receive a weekly allowance.

Courses are free.

The course generally lasts from 1 to 2 years, although it can be flexible, depending on individual needs. The courses take place in Youthreach centres managed by Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and Community Training Centres.  Generally, Youthreach centres are open for 35 hours per week.

• Education programmes at QQI level 2, 3 and Level 4.

• One to One Counselling.

• Work Experience programmes.

• Manual Handling.

• Social Personal Health Education Programme.

• Social Activities (outdoor trips, picnics, hill walking, local gym).