THE FIRST group of second-level teachers to receive a formal qualification in tourism education will be presented with certificates awarded by the National Tourism Certification Board, tomorrow.Tourism has been identified by the Government as the source of one half of all new jobs to be created in the country by 1999, according to CERT.

To meet this Government target the industry must attract an additional workforce of 35,000 people. Training of trainers has been identified as one of the keys to attracting young school-leavers to the industry.

The 13 teachers graduating tomorrow had participated in a pilot scheme. The scheme commenced in April 1994 and included in-service workshops and weekend seminars as well as on-going learning in the workplace with linked coursework. Teachers also participated in transnational visits to CERT's Petra partners in Scotland and Italy.

It is hoped to implement a national programme in tourism education for teachers of tourism-related courses which will offer national certification and promote good practice in tourism education.