After the passing of the Agricultural and Technical Instruction Act of 1898 the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction was set up in 1900.  A Technical Education Sub-Committee was set up under this Act and employed many itinerant teachers who organised evening and night classes at centres throughout Cavan. 

The passing of the 1930 Vocational Education Act saw a more systematic Vocational Education provision in the county.  A day school was established at 19 Farnham Street.  In the mid-30’s schools were built at Belturbet, Cootehill, Kilnaleck and Glangevlin.  Schools were opened in Bailieborough and Bawnboy.  These schools developed and prospered over the years.  In the 60’s Virginia Agricultural Show Society built a school which was leased to the Vocational Education Committee for £1 a year.  A school was also built in Arva.

During the 60’s the Investment in Education Team recommended that all schools should provide a broad curriculum.  Many of the smaller schools in Cavan closed down, these included Arva, Kilnaleck, Glangevlin and Cootehill which became part of the new Comprehensive School which was opened in 1966.  The remaining schools prospered and developed.  The school in Cavan moved to a new site in Cullies in 1974.   A major extension took place in Belturbet in 1976 and proposals to rationalise the schools in Bailieborough were agreed in 1977 to form a new Community School. 

In the early 80’s, Co. Cavan Vocational Education Committee set up a Third Level Sub-Committee which reported in July, 1984, and recommended the setting up of a Further Education College in the county.  This College was set up in a building in the Main Street of Cavan in 1985 and became Cavan College of Further Studies.

During the 80’s major extensions were completed in Bawnboy and Virginia.  The Bawnboy extension was opened officially on 19th October, 1987, by   John P. Wilson, T.D., Minister for Tourism and Transport and the Virginia extension was opened officially on 2nd May, 1988, by Mary O’Rourke, T.D., Minister for Education.