BACK TO EDUCATION INITIATIVE (BTEI) – PART-TIME DAY COURSES

What is the Back to Education Initiative?


The Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) provides part-time Further Education programmes for young people and adults. The aim is to give people an opportunity to combine a return to learning with family, work and other responsibilities.

Who can take part in BTEI programmes?

Anyone who has left full-time education can take part in a course being offered.

What will a BTEI course cost?
Individuals will have different entitlements.

• Those who have a Leaving Cert or less and who are in receipt of unemployment payments or means-tested social welfare benefits

or

• family income supplement payments,

or

• holders of medical cards,

or

• dependents of those entitled to any of these, are entitled to free tuition.
• Other unwaged people with no Leaving Cert will be entitled to a 
reduction in fees.
• Anyone else will be charged fees. All fees will be discussed after participants apply for the course of their choice using the online application.
• Applicants will then be contacted by the college before the course commences to inform them of any fees that may apply.

Will I be paid while attending a BTEI course?
Generally no, except for those participants eligible for full-time Youthreach/Traveller 
training programmes who do not have an underlying social welfare entitlement. They will receive a pro-rata training allowance from the Department of Education and Science, depending on the number of sessions they attend.

For people in receipt of social welfare payments, continued entitlement to benefit is 
subject to satisfying the Department of Social and Family Affairs as to their continued eligibility for the schemes. It is best to discuss individual circumstances with the social welfare office.
What will I get from taking part in a BTEI programme?
Participation in part-time programmes can provide the opportunities to:

• Continue your learning
• Obtain national certification by the Further Education and Training
• Awards Council (FETAC) – participants can choose to pursue certification 
when they are ready
• Develop new skills
• Pursue new employment options

Download the .pdfBTEI Poster

For further details contact:

Bernadette Langford
Tel: (021) 4255561
Email: blangford@stjohnscollege.ie