The Department of Education says it’ll be available to support any students who were due to enrol in a Kerry private secondary school which closed in recent days.
On Thursday evening, Brookfield College in Monavalley, Tralee informed students via email it was closing and not accepting senior cycle students for this academic year.
Brookfield College told students it suffered a significant loss due to the COVID-19 crisis and had very few new enrolments for the upcoming year.
Consequently, the business was no longer viable and has been placed into liquidation.
In response to Radio Kerry, the Department of Education said Minister Norma Foley is aware of the closure and the difficulty this may present for pupils and teachers.
The department will be available to support any students who were due to enrol in Brookfield College and who are now unable to source an alternative school place for September.
In relation to staff, it says private secondary schools do not fall within the remit of the Minister for Education and, therefore, provision for employees is a matter for the school itself.
It’s understood that some students from Brookfield College have been told they’ll be accommodated in Tralee schools for the upcoming academic year.
