81.—(1) No course of study leading to an external qualification shall be provided for pupils of compulsory school age by or on behalf of a grant-aided school unless the qualification is for the time being approved by the Department.
(2) No course of study leading to an external qualification shall be provided for pupils who have attained the upper limit of compulsory school age by or on behalf of a grant-aided school unless the qualification is for the time being approved by the Department.
(3) No course of study leading to an external qualification shall be provided for persons under the age of 19 who are in full time attendance at an institution of further education by or on behalf of the institution unless the qualification is for the time being approved by the Department.
(4) An approval under this Article may be given generally or in relation to particular cases.
(5) In relation to any grant-aided school, it shall be the duty of the Board of Governors to exercise its functions with a view to securing and the duty of the principal to secure that paragraphs (1) and (2) are not contravened.
(6) In relation to any institution of further education, it shall be the duty of the governing body to exercise its functions with a view to securing and the duty of the principal to secure that paragraph (3) is not contravened.
(7) In this Article—
“external qualification” means any academic or vocational qualification authenticated or awarded by an outside person;
“outside person” means—
in relation to a school, a person other than a member of staff of the school;
in relation to an institution of further education, a person other than a member of staff of the institution.