further education courses limerick

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Further Education and Training Division

An extensive choice of full and part-time Further Education and Training is offered at the ETB’s 28 multi-campus College of FET locations as well as over 300 participating community locations across the Limerick and Clare region every year. The range of programmes includes: Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Hospitality Education and Training, Post Leaving Certificate (PLC), Specific Skills Training, Local Training Initiatives, Specialist Training Provision, Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS), Youth Provision (including Youthreach in College of FET campuses and Community Training Centres), Vocational and Employee Skills Development, Community Education, Literacy Services and Evening Courses.

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Newcastle West Campus

Scariff campus, shanagolden campus, abbeyfeale campus, tuamgraney campus, cappamore campus, limerick city campuses.

Green Innovation Campus T: 061-487900 E: [email protected]

Hospitality Campus T: 061-400660 E: [email protected]

Ennis Campus

Shannon campuses, kilrush campus, hospital campus, miltown malbay campus, organic campus, kilmallock town campus, ennistymon campus, croom campus, outdoor education and training centre the burren, outdoor education and training centre kilfinane, limerick school of music, music generation clare, music generation limerick city, education centre, provision key (click item to focus).

• College of Further Education and Training Campus
• Outdoor Education and Training Centre

Music Education

• Prison Education

To explore the complete choice of programmes available and learn more about the authority’s Further Education and Training delivery, visit www.collegeofFET.ie .

Our Quality Assurance Support Service has responsibility for managing the development, implementation, evaluation, and review of an effective, integrated Quality Assurance system for all the authority’s Further Education and Training provision. For more information on all our QA policies and procedures, please click here .

Outdoor Education and Training

Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board is responsible for the management of Outdoor Education and Training across the Limerick and Clare region. The Outdoor Education and Training Centre The Burren and the Outdoor Education and Training Centre Kilfinane are two centres administered by the authority and approved by the Department of Education. Both centres are purpose-built facilities and provide quality outdoor education services to people of all ages including: schools, youth (and in particular disadvantaged young people), 3rd level and adult groups.

Outdoor Education Map

Move your cursor over a map pin to get more information on the Outdoor Education and Training Centre at that location.

Courses are delivered by qualified and experienced instructors, range from half-day to week-long residential programmes and provide modular programmes linking to the school Physical Education curricula. Activities on offer at the centres include: Canoeing, Kayaking, Riverwalk, Raft Building, Mountain Biking, Rock-climbing, Abseiling, Indoor Climbing Wall, Hillwalking, Orienteering, Archery, Team Challenges and Campcraft. The centres have an exemplary safety record and operate all activities according to Outdoor Education Ireland guidelines.

The Further Education and Training Division is also responsible for the management of Music Education provision across the Limerick and Clare region. Limerick School of Music has been providing music tuition to over 1,500 children and adults yearly for many decades. It has a justifiably high reputation as the leading provider of music tuition in the Limerick area.  Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board is also the lead partner in three Music Generation programmes based in Limerick City, Limerick County, and in County Clare.

Music Generation

Music Generation is Ireland’s National Music Education Programme. It aims to help children and young people to access vocal and instrumental tuition in their own locality. Music Generation offers funding and support to establish Music Education Partnerships throughout Ireland. There are three local music education partnerships operating under the auspices of Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board. These are Music Generation Clare , Music Generation Limerick City, and Music Generation Limerick County.

Limerick School of Music operates under the auspices of Limerick and Clare Education Training Board and was founded in 1962. With a student enrolment of 1500 and a staff of 55, it is the largest provider of music education in the Mid-West region. It is located in Mulgrave Street, in the heart of Limerick City, and provides tuition on all orchestral instruments from beginner to diploma level. In addition, it offers tuition in singing, theory of music, classical guitar, speech and drama and pipe organ. The school also provides outreach programmes at Our Lady Queen of Peace Primary School, Janesboro, and at Learning Hub Limerick on the Northside of the city in Kileely.

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Full-time Day Programmes

Offering over 80 exciting programmes at LCFE Mulgrave St Campus, as well as a wide range of programmes at its Kilmallock Road and Hospitality campuses in the city, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board's College of Further Education and Training has a pathway for you. Our programmes offer you the opportunity to gain skills and knowledge that are of industry standard and that open the door for you to either continue onto further studies or join the world of work. Your learning pathway begins here...

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College Details

Limerick College of Further Education

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• Make Enquiry

Limerick College of Further Education is a long-established, state-funded and administered further education college.

It is one of many centres of education run by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board. LCFE was known until 2008 as Limerick Senior College.

LCFE offers Further Education (Post Leaving Certificate)  programmes and Professional qualifications in a variety of  disciplines and caters for approximately 1200 full-time and 3000  part-time learners. Its campuses are situated in the South-East of  the city on Mulgrave Street (a short distance from the city centre)  and also in East Limerick at Cappamore.

Limerick College of Further Education aims to provide high quality internationally-recognised educational programmes, delivered in a  modern dynamic environment by a highly qualified and committed  team of teachers. Programmes are accredited by a number of  prestigious validating bodies. The approval of LCFE by these bodies  is a further benchmark of the high quality of courses, facilities,  tuition and support structures on offer.

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College Details

Limerick College of Further Education

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Please insert your contact details and any additional information you require and we will forward your request to the organisation in question.

• Make Enquiry

Limerick College of Further Education is a long-established, state-funded and administered further education college.

It is one of many centres of education run by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board. LCFE was known until 2008 as Limerick Senior College.

LCFE offers Further Education (Post Leaving Certificate)  programmes and Professional qualifications in a variety of  disciplines and caters for approximately 1200 full-time and 3000  part-time learners. Its campuses are situated in the South-East of  the city on Mulgrave Street (a short distance from the city centre)  and also in East Limerick at Cappamore.

Limerick College of Further Education aims to provide high quality internationally-recognised educational programmes, delivered in a  modern dynamic environment by a highly qualified and committed  team of teachers. Programmes are accredited by a number of  prestigious validating bodies. The approval of LCFE by these bodies  is a further benchmark of the high quality of courses, facilities,  tuition and support structures on offer.

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• English Continuation: Conversational English
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• Graphic Design Skills (QQI Level 5) Graphic Design
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• Italian Beginners (QQI Level 3) Languages

Limerick College of Further Education

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Course enquiry to limerick college of further education, about limerick college of further education.

Limerick College of Further Education is a long-established, state-funded and administered further education college. It is one of many centres of education run by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board.

LCFE offers Further Education (PLC) courses and professional qualifications in a variety of disciplines. Its campuses are situated in the South-East of the city on Mulgrave Street (a short distance from the city centre)  and also in East Limerick at Cappamore.

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College of Management and IT (CMIT)

University of Limerick, Professional Education

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Dunboyne College of Further Education

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Full Time Courses

Part time courses, part time information.

This section of the site covers specific information for learners/applicants on College of FET Mulgrave Street Campus Limerick City's part time evening programmes . Just click your chosen option on the menu.

College of FET Mulgrave Street Campus offers more than 150 part-time evening programmes over many disciplines and currently caters for approximately 2500 learners annually. We offer a wide range of relevant accredited and general interest programmes available every September and January. The programmes on offer are reviewed and updated biannually, reflecting changing demands and feedback from learners and industry.

Our part-time courses support those in employment or seeking employment and provide others with the chance to explore new pursuits. We regard learning as a lifelong pursuit and see education  as an important step in the adventure towards greater personal development and growth. We are both flexible and adaptable in meeting the needs of adult learners and provides courses and expert tuition over many fields of study with accreditation by a number of prestigious validating bodies. We are delighted to present this booklet for January 2024 and invite you to join us on a programme of learning at the College.

Since 2013 Further Education and Training has been recognised as the fourth pillar of the Irish Educational System. SOLAS , as an agency of the Department of Education and Skills (DES ) has been tasked with creating a world class integrated FET sector that is responsive to the needs of learners and the requirements of a changed economy.

College of FET LCFE Mulgrave Street Campus operates as part of Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB) Further Education and Training (FET) division. Within this environment the college continues the tradition of developing more educational opportunities to reflect the diverse needs of adult learner here in the Mid-West region.

This January 2024 season we are offering an interesting range of New QQI Accredited courses. See our January 2024 booklet available at the following link:

Part Time Prospectus January 2024  

In recent years, due to the popularity and expansion of our range of courses, the college has scheduled a number of them at the Further Education and Training Centre, Kilmallock Rd. campus (formerly St. Endas). It is an excellent spacious facility with plenty of car parking spaces. We will endeavour to continue expanding the range of programmes available to learners demonstrating our commitment to providing the widest variety of learning opportunities in the Mid-West.

College of FET LCFE Mulgrave Street Campus supports its teaching and learning with up-to-date resources reflecting business standards and local industry needs. Our greatest asset and key to our success is our staff. They are dedicated, professional and committed to the learners who come here.

The preferred method of enrolling on courses is to register online. This is a fast, secure and easy way to register your application. So why not go to

www.collegeoffet.ie/mulgrave-st or www.lcfe.ie

and explore the full listing of our courses and prices. This booklet provides you with an overview of what is on offer and our website provides many of the answers to your queries. You can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram   

LCFE NIGHT SCHOOL   Facebook Page                     https://www.facebook.com/lcfenight/

LCFE NIGHT SCHOOL Instagram Page                       https://www.instagram.com/lcfe_nightschool/

College of FET Mulgrave Street Limerick Academic Calendar 2023 2024

Calendar Evening Courses Sept 23 to Jun 24

Learner Information Sheet Induction January 2024 https://limerickandclareetb-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/arlene_douglas_lcetb_ie/EcyHyww_KPRCg2ue_zvZN1gBnIWpqGndxkvNCL7Xzz9-xg?e=bxKOve

THE ADULT EDUCATION TEAM

D irector of Adult Education:  Arlene Douglas

Assistant Directors: Liam Duggan & Rose Doyle

Assistant Principals 2:  Audrey Fitzgerald

Administrator:  Sandra McNamara, April O’Neill

The contents of this site are for information purposes only. No guarantee is given that the programmes, syllabi or fees may not be altered, cancelled  le://srv-lcfe-003/USERS/arlene.douglas/Documents/Academic%20Calendar%202022%2023/Academic_Calendar_23_24%20web.htm or otherwise amended at any time .

Our January 2024 Courses commence on the week beginning Monday 15th January 2024 

Pick Up a Booklet and enroll Onsite anytime from Mon 8th January 2024 to Friday 12th January 2024     Office Hours 10am to 4pm, (Mulgrave Street Office ) 

Enrolment Options: 

1 Enroll Online (Preferred Method)

Register online for the course of your choice by logging onto our website and following the simple step by step registration process: www.lcfe.ie

Click the  Part Time Courses Apply BLACK button at this link:

Evening Programmes Part time Apply Now

2. Enrolment at College of FET LCFE Mulgrave Street Campus, Limerick       

Enrolment – for Adult Education Evening Courses    January 2024

Office Hours – Weekdays only :

Mon 8th January 2024 to Friday 12th January 2024 – 10am to 4pm, (Mulgrave St Office)  

FOR SECURITY REASONS WE CANNOT ACCEPT CASH

It is possible to register by post by returning a completed application form and payment by cheque, bank draft or postal order. Please make payable to:  Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB).

FOR SECURITY REASONS, WE CANNOT ACCEPT CASH.

Return application form(s) to:

Evening Courses,

Limerick College of Further Education,

Mulgrave Street, Limerick

Application Form &  Tuition Fees

Fees published in this booklet consist of tuition fees and material fees only, except where otherwise indicated. Some validating bodies charge separate registration/examination fees. Please refer to their respective websites where applicable. (See back section of Booklet).

• 20% discount on tuition fees can be availed of by  individuals in receipt of Full Job Seekers Allowance/ Benefit, Disability Allowance or One Parent Family Payment  –
• 20% discount can also be availed of on tuition fees for all full-time College of FET LCFE Mulgrave Street Campus Learners,
• 20% discount is available on tuition fees for all senior citizens

ID and Paper Evidence Required on application at Mulgrave Street Campus Office ONLY. 

Terms and Conditions:

• Discounts apply to tuition fees only and not materials fees

Proof for the applicable discount must be provided at registration

• Proof for a discount application will not be accepted once a course commences
• Discounts cannot be applied for t hrough the online registration system
• Once a course starts no refunds are  permitted.
• Application forms cannot be processed nor places reserved without the full payment of tuition fees. Cheques, bank drafts or postal orders should be made payable to Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB).

For Security Reasons WE CANNOT ACCEPT CASH.

Reasonable arrangements

It is advisable that those representing Vulnerable Adults (Advocacy groups or Service Organisations) should contact the Mulgrave Street Campus Adult Education Department in advance of registering service users so that proper safeguards can be identified and risk assess in order to make best efforts to try to accommodate learners if it is deemed reasonable to do so. 

Fees published in this website are tuition fees and material fees only, except where otherwise indicated. Some validating bodies charge separate registration/examination fees. Please refer to their respective websites.

Note: Discounts apply to tuition fees only and not materials fees

Proof for a discount will not be accepted once a course commences. No discounts are available once a course commences.

Discounts cannot be applied for through the online registration system.

Application forms cannot be processed nor places reserved without the full payment of  fees. Cheques, bank drafts or postal orders should be made payable to Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB).

Programme Cancellation

For a course to commence it is necessary to enroll a minimum number of participants. If this number is not reached the course will be cancelled. Participants will be notified and a full fee refund will be processed. Any fees paid by cash are refunded by cheque and will require some time to process.

Viable Programmes

• All  courses must remain viable and be self-financing; therefore, NO REFUNDS , under any circumstances, are available once a course commences. We regret we cannot entertain any other requests for refunds.
• Once a course commences participants cannot defer their place on that  course to another term. It is the responsibility of the participants to inform themselves of the course commencement date, content, course duration, etc.

In all cases fees must be paid before classes commence. Under no circumstances can learners attend a class without an official receipt. 

Applications received after the commencement date of a course will only be accepted at the sole discretion of the Adult Education Department.

Course Deferrals

Unfortunately, we cannot facilitate applicants who wish to defer a registered place, either before or after a course commences, to another term. See Refund Policy.

Certificates of Attendance

Certificates of Attendance are posted to respective learners within two months of programme completion. Certificates of Attendance are only issued where a learner has 70% attendance on the programme.

Replacement Certificate: A replacement fee of €20 will apply for the re-issuing of a certificate of attendance.

Assessment Reasonable Accommodation (QQI) Any learner wishing to avail of this must contact the Adult Education Department at the commencement of his/her programme. Details on the procedure for examination accommodation will be provided on week one of the programme. Applicants will be requested to submit details of a professional assessment outlining their disability/learning difficulty. Applications made to the Adult Education office after the third week of the programme may not be considered. This applies to written examinations only.

Assignment/Project Submission

Course work will not be returned to learners once submitted for assessment. Learners are therefore advised to retain copies of all course work submitted. This is necessary both for the learner’s own future reference and in the event of the tutor requesting a copy of the course work, for whatever reason. Electronic back-up copies should also be retained. All hard copy materials will be disposed of by 30th September of every academic year.

Examinations

Learners are encouraged to undertake examinations of the respective validating bodies. Learners will be informed by the Examination Officer and teacher as follows:

Examination entry procedure and dates for examination entry:

It is the responsibility of the learner to register for all relevant examinations and pay the appropriate examination fee. Examination entry fees are non-refundable.

Dates for presentation of projects and assignments:

Projects cannot be accepted after the specified dates.

Dates of examination sitting:

These will be located on the examinations’ notice board located on the ground floor and on the Adult Education notice board.

Issue of Assessment/Exam Results & Certificates

QQI Programmes

Results for all QQI assessment will be posted to respective learners in June of each year. Learners completing programmes in the first term in December will also receive their results in the following June. QQI certificates are posted to respective learners in August of each year. Learners wishing to appeal their grades must do so within the time indicated on the letter (from date of postmark). Details of how to appeal will be issued with results. If, in the unlikely event, a learner has not received any results by the end of August please contact the examinations officer by emailing [email protected]

Assessment entry with QQI requires learners to supply the Adult Education Department with a correct PPSN, first name, surname and DOB. Failure to supply the correct details may result in the unsuccessful processing of the entry. Throughout the duration of the programme learners will be asked to verify their data by their teacher to facilitate the entry process. The data will be used for the purpose of assessment entry only.

Non-QQI Programmes

Other validating bodies have their own time frame for the issuing of results and certificates. Please consult their respective websites or contact the examination officer for further details.

(College of FET LCFE, Mulgrave Street Campus)

Computer rooms.

The college is constantly updating its computer facilities and currently has 9 state-of-the-art Computer Rooms including an Apple iMac laboratory. All are networked and connected to a high-speed internet connection.

Radio Studios

The college also has state of the art radio studios. The College broadcasts on radio online at certain times of the year at iMixLCFE

Film & Photography Guidelines

Learners are not permitted to use images of the College or its staff or learners or persons within the vicinity of the college without written authorisation from the Director of Adult Education.

Hair Beauty & Holistic Course Guidelines

Learners Undertaking Hair, Beauty or Holistic courses must adhere to  the guidelines and procedures outlines by the certifying body eg A learner where required must agree to wear a uniform as specified and required by the certifying body and may need to supply their own Model(s) to successfully conduct the practical elements of the course and satisfy the on-going assessment requirements of the course. Learners must adhere to all health, safety and hygiene requirements of practical courses as specified.

All models for Hair, Beauty or holistic courses must be over 18 years. There are some exceptions for Hair courses where a model must be over 16 years.

College of FET LCFE Mulgrave Street Campus The college wishes to minimise night school learners’ cars causing any disruption to residents, business premises and property owners near the college in particular on Garryowen Road, Rossa Avenue & Rossa Villas, Markets Field Terrace, Geraldine Villas & Arlington Terrace. As part of the colleges link to Limerick Smart Travel initiative we are recommending that learners should Car Pool as much as possible in the first instance to reduce traffic on Mulgrave Street and the surrounding area. Parking is available in Cornmarket Square Car Park and is within walking distance of the college, near the Milk Market with opening hours 7.30am to late at 1.00am on The college is open on Tuesday Wednesday and  Thursday nights from 18th September excluding holidays. 

It is the learners responsibility to park legally if they are parking in the Mulgrave Street surrounding areas and we ask all learners to assist us with this.

College of FET Kilmallock Road Campus (KRC) A number of our part time programmes now take place at the Kilmallock Road Campus Limerick City (KRC) Further Education and Training Centre (formerly St. Enda’s community school) on the Kilmallock Road on Tuesday evening. The campus boasts great facilities and has ample free parking spaces available.

Change of Address

The college needs to be informed of any change of address to ensure the prompt delivery of all correspondence, examination results, certificates etc. This can be emailed to: [email protected] . The college is not responsible for any delivery delays or non-delivery caused by a third party.

Learner Appeals

Learners wishing to appeal their received final result or any aspect of the assessment process must complete this form and return it and a fee of €40.00 per appeal to LCFE Mulgrave Street before the specified date.

The form can be downloaded at this link

Learner_Appeal_Application_Form_2023

Responsibility cannot be accepted for the loss or damage to the property of the learner.

Class Cancellation/Rescheduling

Due to unforeseen circumstances e.g. teacher illness; a class may be cancelled and rescheduled to another date. If sufficient notification has been received by the college, a text message will be issued to all learners registered on the programme advising them of the change. A cancelled class will usually be rescheduled to the week following the last week of the programme, at the normal time and day. However where this is not possible another date will be selected. On rare occasions it may be necessary to reschedule a class because of a bank holiday. Learners must provide a valid mobile number when they register to study with College of FET Mulgrave Street LCFE Night School.

Garda Vetting

LCFE/LCETB is committed to practices which safeguard the welfare of learners, young people and vulnerable adults. Even though LCFE night / part-time self financed programmes are only open to learners that have reached 18 year old, LCETB is registered with the Garda Central Vetting Unit and will be conducting Garda Vetting on learners attending programmes where it is identified that possible interaction with children and vulnerable adults is a feature of the programme. Any information disclosed by the Garda Central Vetting Unit may be shared with the appropriate decision making personnel in prospective work experience organisations. It is the learner’s responsibility to ensure that all information is correct, as any omission will mean a delay in the processing of the application.

For QQI Level 5  &  6 courses 100% funding may be available to eligible applicants in employment that wish to up-skill. This funding may also be available to employers who wish to put forward their staff for training to up-skill.

Please apply by downloading and filling the below Skills to Advance Expression of Interest form and emailing it to [email protected] or [email protected] :

Note: It is possible to add text by clicking the T Icon within the pdf document

Skills to Advance EXPRESSION OF INTEREST Form 

VERY IMPORTANT: Please indicate clearly the Code, Title and Level of the QQI course you have an interest in applying for.

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Further Education & Training

Limerick and clare education and training board (lcetb), english language provision.

• Other Supports

Qualifications Recognition

Further Education and Training (FET) courses are provided by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board (LCETB)  through their College of FET . Courses are designed to support learners who are interested in upskilling to enter the workforce or progress in their existing career, progressing into further or higher education, undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship, or developing their skills in reading and writing.

Limerick & Clare Education & Training Board prepared a short guide to help you to understand how our education system works and to be aware of the supports that are available to you to help you make informed career and educational choices. It provides information on how to have your qualifications recognised in Ireland. Download the  Irish Educational System and Qualification recognition in Ukrainian and English.

Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board offer a wide array of full time and part-time courses in a variety of subject matters, both accredited and non- accredited are available on www.collegeoffet.ie . In addition , we provide a range of  supports for learners

Eligibility for various provision is outlined in the Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board College of FET  Access, Transfer and Progression Policy . ESOL

If you are interested in speaking to someone about the other Education and Training options available please contact us to discuss your options on FREEPHONE 1800 70 70 77 or by Email on  [email protected]

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Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board offers free English language skills courses for adults. If you need to learn English or improve your English, the College of FET will assess you in developing English language skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Please contact the ETB on 1800 707077, by email on [email protected] .

Clinical English Language supports are now in place for Ukrainian healthcare workers and other recognised refugees.

Health professionals wishing to practice in the Irish public health service have to be registered with the relevant professional regulator.  One of the requirements for registration is the need to have achieved a minimum IELTS or OETS score, as proof of English language proficiency.

There are clinical language supports in place to help refugees achieve English language proficiency which will in turn support their professional registration. 

• These clinical language supports are aimed at Ukrainian and refugee healthcare workers who are tracking for professional registration with the relevant statutory regulator. 
• Mainly Doctors and Dental Professions who will achieve registration and expect a smaller number of other disciplines to achieve professional registration.

A new website outlines these supports and applicants can apply on this portal

• Please see www.regpath.ie
• The FAQs on this website provides information on who can apply, types of language courses, eligibility process etc. 

This support is key in supporting Ukrainian/ other refugee groups towards gaining employment in healthcare professional roles.

Other Supports:

• Irish Refugee Council prepared an Education Information Booklet ‘Guide to Further and Higher Education’ where you can find information including English language supports, qualification recognition, how to apply to university, state funding and scholarships. To access the Guide please visit Irish Refugee Council
• SaorEd: Online education for international protection applicants – Doras , a Limerick-based migrant support organization, provide free access to a wide range of online courses for international protection applicants, refugees and other underserved communities in Ireland. These include English language, information technology, and career preparation courses. You can access the on-line platform at www.saored.com .
• Alternatively, you can check out www.fetchcourses.ie/courses for more English language courses on a free and paid basis along with a list of institutions providing educational services.
• Fáilte Isteach – conversational English classes – need info here and links to find classes in relevant location

You must register and have your  qualifications recognised  to work in some professions. For example, you must register with the Medical Council to work as a doctor. You can find regulated professions and competent authorities by clicking here - Please insert link to document 04.1.

To find out more please visit Recognition of professional qualifications (www.gov.ie)

• NARIC's searchable  Foreign Qualifications Database  with over 1600 qualifications from more than 160 countries allows you to download a comparability statement that compares your academic qualification to an Irish qualification of a similar major award type and level on the Irish  National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ ), where possible. If your qualification is not listed in the database you can apply for advice on the  general academic recognition of your qualification here . 

 Rough Guide to qualifications in the context of the Irish National Qualifications System draw together current information on the education and training system into a single document and is available for Ukrainian and Syrian Qualifications:

• Ukrainian Qualifications
• Syrian  Qualifications
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Croom College - Courses

We are now accepting applications for our September Courses. 

Call us on 061-397700 or email us [email protected]  if you require further information or assistance making an application. 

Applied Sciences

Equine studies, health studies.

061 – 397700

[email protected]

Croom College of Further Education

The Mill Campus, Croom, Co. Limerick. 

Visit Facebook Page

Our College Facebook page is an excellent way to find out more in relation to course activities and college life. 

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High Street, Croom, Co. Limerick

+ 353 61 540211

(Office hours  12:00 - 15:00 Mon - Thurs, 10:00 - 13:00 Friday) 

[email protected]

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News - College Updates

Check out our facebook page to see what is happening throughout our courses.

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The contents of Croom College's web pages are provided as an information guide only. 

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Fear and Loathing in Russia’s Catalonia: Moscow’s Fight Against Federalism

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“It is unacceptable to force a man to learn a language that is not his own,” said Vladimir Putin on July 20, 2017. With these words, Putin began the toughest crackdown on Russia’s ethnic republics since the founding of the Soviet Union. He apparently aims to destroy the very raison d’etre of the republics, effectively reducing them to ordinary Russian provinces. In particular, Putin’s crackdown on the autonomous republic of Tatarstan, which has had a historically contentious relationship with the federal government, shows a greater desire on Moscow’s part to impose a nationalist Russian identity on ethnic minorities and reduce the potential threat of separatism. But the show of force could backfire on Putin, who may find that his heavy-handed tactics push Tatars into the arms of religious leaders more inclined to resist the center.

Russia’s Ethnic Republics

The Russian Communist government that came to power in 1917 proclaimed the principle of self-determination, establishing a two-level system of ethnic autonomies . The new USSR – literally the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics – consisted of major “soyuznyje” (allied) republics such as Russia, Ukraine, and Georgia. Some of these “allied” republics included smaller “autonomous” republics within them. The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic had the largest number, of which Chechnya, Tatarstan and Yakutiya (Saha) are probably the best-known in the West. Every republic, whether “allied” or “autonomous,” was regarded as a cradle for native culture and self-consciousness. Native languages were actively promoted in all of them and courses of these languages were compulsory in most.

After the downfall of the USSR, the “allied” republics became independent states. The problem, however, was that many formerly “autonomous” republics also tried to secede. Moscow’s position on this issue has been inconsistent. On the one hand, the Kremlin actively encouraged separatism in Georgia, Moldavia, and lately Ukraine, proclaiming independence of two Georgian autonomies (Abkhazia and South Ossetia) in 2008, and promoting separatism in previously nonexistent autonomies such as Transnistria in Moldavia and so-called Donetsk and Lugansk Peoples’ Republics in Ukraine. Overall, Moscow welcomes post-Soviet separatism and especially irredentism of ethnic Russians in other countries. On the other hand, Moscow has always insisted on Russia’s territorial integrity, suppressing local regional identities and even waging two bloody wars in Chechnya to crush separatists.

Currently, Russia has 21 ethnic republics. Some of the republics located in the North Caucasus, such as Muslim Ingushetia, Dagestan, and especially Chechnya, have a history of armed resistance to the central power. Another cluster in the Volga basin consists of two Muslim Turkic republics, Tatarstan and Bashkortostan; one Christian Turkic, Chuvashia; and three mostly Christian (but preserving a strong Pagan heritage) Finno-Ugric: Mari-El, Udmurtia, and Mordovia. The rest of the republics are located in the Russian North and Siberia.

After 2014, which saw the annexation of Crimea and the beginning of an undeclared war in Ukraine, the Russian government took a much tougher stance against ethnic autonomies. There are a number of possible explanations for this. First, after severely damaging its relations with the West, Moscow may see autonomies as a potential fifth column vulnerable to influence from abroad and prone to separatism. The success of ethnic Russian irredentism in Ukraine could make the Kremlin more afraid of similar processes taking place in Russia. Secondly, Russia’s economic decline leaves the ruling clan with no choice but to expropriate local elites in the republics, who privatized the local industries, especially the oil industry, in the 1990s and thus appear to be the last big prey for Putin’s friends. In 2016 Bashneft, the main oil company of the republic of Bashkortostan, was acquired by Rosneft, the biggest oil company in Russia whose director, Igor Sechin, is a personal friend of Putin. Finally, the appointment of Sergey Kirienko as a new deputy chief of the president’s administration in October 2016 might contribute to declining relations with autonomies. From 2000 to 2005, Kirienko served as the president’s deputy in Privolzhsky Federal District and got into conflict with Tatarstan.

And yet, the latest blow came unexpectedly.

A Crackdown Begins in Tatarstan

In September 2017, Russia’s central government started to enforce Putin’s instructions and push local governments into abolishing local language courses in the ethnic republics. Such measures, introduced at the beginning of an academic year, led to protests and demonstrations in Komi (a Finnish-speaking region in Northern European Russia) and in Bashkortostan .

While most local governments did not put up much of a fight, Tatarstan’s leaders pushed back hard against the new policy. This Muslim-majority republic is the closest Russian analog to Catalonia, a region with a strong local identity, tradition of resistance to central authorities and, most importantly, wealth – Tatarstan is a net donor to Russia’s budget.

Kazan, Tatarstan’s capital, has a long history of confrontation with the federal center. When the central government was weak in the 1990s, it mostly won its battles with Moscow. In 1992, only two of the 21 Russian republics (Tatarstan and Chechnya) refused to sign the federation treaty, the constitutional document that regulated the relationship between regional governments and Moscow, and which Moscow badly needed at that time. Tatarstan’s government organized a referendum on sovereignty in which 61.4 percent of voters agreed that Tatarstan was a “sovereign state.” However, instead of declaring independence like Chechnya did (which would have certainly led to war), the local government used these results to bargain for another, more favorable treaty with Moscow. This deal , signed in 1994, gave Tatarstan significant autonomy and tax benefits.

However, since Putin came to power in 2000, the trend has reversed and the region’s independence has been slowly slipping away. In 2002, the Constitutional Court of Russia declared that the “sovereignty” of the region contradicts the Russian constitution, so local legislators had to remove this word from Tatarstan’s constitution.

Language has always been one of the most politically divisive issues between Moscow and Kazan. In 1999, the Tatar parliament passed a law switching the republic’s language from Cyrillic to Latin script, the latter being better suited for Turkic phonetics. But in 2002 the Russian parliament intervened and forbade non-Russian peoples from using scripts other than Cyrillic. The Constitutional Court of Russia supported the right of the federal center to choose the scripts for all the peoples of Russia, including Tatars, effectively making Cyrillic the only alphabet allowed (and forbidding Latin), despite widespread protests in the region. Russian federal legislators and judges likely perceived the introduction of Latin script as an attempt to de-Russify local Tatar culture and bring it closer to Turkey.

The latest crackdown on Tatarstan and other ethnic republics started in 2017. First, the central government refused to renew the federation treaty with Tatarstan, the last republic that still had such an agreement with Moscow. The “Russian state is not based on treaties,” Kirienko said . The standoff over the treaty created legal confusion because according to the Tatar constitution , Tatarstan is linked to the Russian Federation through the Constitution of the Russian Federation, the Constitution of Tatarstan, and the Federation Treaty. Now the treaty is gone, which creates a legal vacuum and a potential pretext for separatism.

The 2017 campaign to abolish compulsory courses in local languages faced resistance from Tatarstan’s government. Since Kazan could not oppose Putin openly, local leadership preferred to ignore his instructions. The president of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov, and his minister of education, Engel Fattakhov, declared that Putin’s words were being misinterpeted and did not apply to Tatarstan and that Tatar classes would remain compulsory.

To break this resistance, in October, government prosecutors started to investigate local schools to determine whether they had retained compulsory courses on Tatar and to pressure school directors to abolish them. This ignited a huge public outcry, and nearly all of the 1,500 mosques in Tatarstan held prayers in support of the local language: “In times of attack on the Tatar language we should use it everywhere,” said Kamil Samigullin, chief muftii of the Tatar republic.

Sixteen thousand Tatars signed a petition to the local government, saying:

This is our last defense line. Depending on your decision, you will get either our support or alienation. Our ways will part and when ‘interested’ people will come to expropriate “Tatneft,” “TAIF” [major oil and petrochemical companies belonging to the Tatarstan government] or for certain people in the local government, there will be no one to support you.

Minnikhanov publicly wondered whether the federal government’s investigations were part of a plot to undermine Putin’s reputation: “We cannot treat school directors like that. Tomorrow we will organize the elections with them. Or is it done intentionally in order to worsen the attitude toward our President Vladimir Putin in Tatarstan?” This could be interpreted as a veiled threat: Paradoxically, Tatarstan has been one of the staunchest supporters of Putin and his party in recent elections. This was part of an implicit horse trade: Kazan supports Moscow in Russian elections in return for a certain degree of autonomy.

One can only guess what other pressures Russia exerted over the next few days. At any rate, three days later, the speaker of Tatarstan’s parliament introduced the Tatarstan state prosecutor (appointed by Moscow) Ildus Nafikov, imploring the audience “to listen to the prosecutor’s information and accept the bill without opening discussion and without asking questions — in order not to agitate our society even more.” The prosecutor told the legislators about investigations he had conducted in Tatar schools and cases of compulsory language courses he had discovered. He noted that most directors cooperated with investigators and agreed to abolish these “breaches of law” (except for only one – surprisingly, an ethnic Russian named Pavel Shmakov ). Then, the prosecutor presented the new education bill to which the speaker had alluded, which would make local curricula align with the new instructions from the Moscow Ministry for Education, created specifically to bring Tatarstan into compliance with Putin’s declaration (which had not even been presented to the members of parliament). The bill, of course, passed unanimously. It was quite symbolic that this purely educational initiative came from a prosecutor — representative of the central government’s punitive machine.

It is interesting that members of parliament openly admit that they passed the bill under pressure. When a journalist asked the head of the parliament’s committee for education, Rasil Valeev, whether he was content with the bill he voted for, Valeev replied that of course he was not, adding that he intends “to raise this issue again.”

The struggle between Moscow and Kazan reveals a lot about the current balance of power in Russia. The Kremlin is strong enough to impose its will over the republics, even when facing strong protests from both their leadership and population. However, to do so Putin has to rely on force and threats. In the future, Moscow may only increase its attacks on the ethnic republics and may even attempt to abolish them completely. It has already gone part of the way, having greatly reduced the power of the autonomies, which means going further would just be a logical continuation of Putin’s policy since the 2000s.

And yet, such radical measures and open interference in local affairs will inevitably trigger a rise of local identities and nationalisms. Moreover, whereas nationalist movements in Tatarstan in the 1990s had been mostly secular, in the future they may be likely to clericalize. As in the case of many once stateless nations, such as Ireland or Poland, religion in Tatarstan appears to be the last bastion of national identity. Indeed, while many tend to think of Poland as a vehemently Catholic country, in the early modern period it was arguably the most tolerant and pluralistic nation of the European continent, with its Jews, Muslims, Orthodox, Protestants, Aryans, and all kinds of non-Trinitarians living side by side. In fact, by the mid-sixteenth century Protestants even held the majority in the Polish Sejm. However, after the Partitions of Poland in the 18 th century, when the country came under Russian-Prussian-Austrian control, “the Church was often the only institution that had a Polish character. Thus Polish national consciousness came to be strongly tied to a Catholic religious identity.”

In Tatarstan we may witness a similar shift. While the republic’s secular institutions have totally capitulated before the will of Moscow, religious authorities have tried to compensate for their failure, insisting on the wider use of national language, opening free courses of Tatar language and culture in mosques and switching all the preaching in Tatarstan mosques from Russian to the Tatar language. Samigullin, the Mutfi, published a declaration saying that “Islam as it had been in the hardest times for Tatar people again has to defend the Tatar language…even though the religion is separate from the state it lives in the soul of our people.” He added, “Words pronounced from the mosques’ minbars have more power than those said from political tribunes.” The muftii’s stubborn persistence reflects one of the main myths of Tatar national history — according to legend, the defense of Kazan during its siege by the Russians in 1552 was organized by imam Kul-Sharif (and not the political leader, the khan, who surrendered to the enemy). The republic’s main mosque in Kazan Kremlin is named after the imam. Now, as in the past, religious leaders may take initiative when the political ones fail to do so.

As Polishness in the 19 th century became closely tied with being a Catholic, so Tatar identity may become more and more tied with being a Muslim. We can hardly expect the emergence of a guerilla movement comparable to the North Caucasian ones (such as in Chechnya or Dagestan). In the Caucasus, anti-Russian guerilla movements never really stopped except for a few decades starting around 1950, and then immediately resumed when the hand of the Kremlin weakened during Perestroika. Tatarstan, by contrast, is much more integrated into Russia and has had little tradition of armed resistance since the Pugachev Rebellion in the 18 th century. On the other hand, it is impossible to predict whether Moscow will move to abolish ethnic autonomies. Few had predicted the annexation of Crimea or the Syrian campaign, and moreover, Russian authorities vehemently denied them until they started.

However, whatever Moscow chooses to do with Tatarstan’s autonomy, it is fair to assume that any diminishing of central power in Russia (similar to perestroika) will immediately boost the national movement in the republic. This time, however, the movement might be led not by the nationalist intelligentsia, as in the 1990s, but by Tatarstan’s mullahs.

Kamil Galeev is pursuing an MA in China Studies at Yenching Academy, Peking University. Previously, he worked in Russia as a journalist for Novaya Gazeta and Forbes.ru, and as a civil servant in the Agency for Strategic Initiatives. He participated in Stephen Broadberry’s project to reconstruct Russia’s 19th-century national accounts. 

Image: Alexey/Flickr

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