The Minister for Education, Norma Foley has launched the BA in Education, Home Economics and Business Studies course in Mary Immaculate College, St Patrick’s Campus, Thurles. The Minister for Education visited Thurles on Tuesday evening for the official launch. Tipperary Fianna Fáil TD Jackie Cahill describes the commencement of the course as a “momentous day for Education in Thurles”.
Mary Immaculate College, St Patrick’s Campus and the National Apprenticeship centre in Archerstown will be the co-location for the new course. 15 places were offered via the CAO system with the first intake this autumn. Home Economics teacher training had only been offered in St Angela’s in Sligo until recent years. Students can now secure the highly sought after qualification in Thurles and via a course offered in collaboration with MTU and UCC.
Deputy Cahill hopes the local provision will enable Tipperary students to apply for a place on the course. The Government TD is also acknowledging the cooperation he received from Head of Campus in Mary Immaculate College, Thurles, Dr Finn Ó Mhurchú and the Chief Executive of Tipperary ETB, Bernadette Cullen on the initiative. In addition, Deputy Cahill thanked Government Ministers in the Departments of Education and Higher Education for their assistance in delivering the new course in Thurles.