Co. Louth VECs Guidance Counsellors are set to discuss the impact of imminent cutbacks to guidance and counselling services in its post-primary schools. The CEO of the VEC, Dr. Pádraig Kirk, informed the most recent meeting of the VEC that he has set a date for a meeting of the scheme's full cohort of Guidance Counsellors for later this month.

It was announced in the Budget before Christmas that from the start of the 2012/2013 school year Guidance provision will have to be managed by schools from within their standard teacher allocation.  At present a separate teacher allocation is made for Guidance.  The move is expected to save up to 500 teaching posts nationally and was implemented as an alternative to making a change to the pupil teacher ratio.

Dr. Kirk said that, "the purpose of the meeting is twofold; to provide the scheme's Guidance Counsellors with a forum to voice their concerns regarding the cutbacks, and to explore future strategies for the provision of guidance and counselling services going forward".  The CEO added, "the cuts in Guidance and Counselling provision were likely to have an untold impact on students, the effects of which will probably be felt for many years to come, but we have a situation that needs to be managed carefully and the VEC will not be found wanting in living up to it's obligations under relevant legislation in providing an appropriate level of Guidance in it's schools".

The CEO continued, "the VEC wants to ensure that its Guidance Counsellors are party to any changes in service; they are the professionals and we will be listening very closely to any suggestions they have to make".  The VEC also plans to engage with other relevant parties in developing a reformed model of provision including relevant national bodies, principals, teachers, parents and students.

All Co. Louth VEC schools recently completed a comprehensive review of their School Guidance Plan.