All you education questions answered by Brian Mooney

I am 21 years of age and have nearly completed an honours degree in property in DIT. I was wondering about getting into primary school teaching. Would I have to do the entire undergraduate teaching degree, then the year placement, or are there other alternatives? I did all honours subjects in my Leaving Cert and came out with 400 points. Could you give me some information on any options I may have, if there are any at all?

Firstly, you may apply for the three year B.Ed course at Mary Immaculate College, Limerick (honours degree),

St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Dublin (honours degree), Coláiste Mhuire, Marino, Dublin (ordinary degree) or Froebel College, Rathmines, Dublin (ordinary degree). As you have not yet reached 23, you will have to make a standard application through the Central Applications Office. Your current points score of 400 is unlikely to secure you a place on one of the above programmes. If you were a mature student (23 years of age at least on January 1st of the year of entry to College), you would have three choices: apply through the CAO only; apply directly to the college only; apply through the CAO and directly to the college. Direct entry is assessed by an interview and an oral Irish test.

Applicants who meet the minimum requirements in Gaeilge, (C3 higher level, Leaving Certificate, or equivalent; Pass in First Arts Irish, Dioplóma sa Ghaeilge from UCC or National University of Ireland, Maynooth), English, (D3 higher level or C3 Ordinary level, Leaving Certificate) and Mathematics (D3 higher or ordinary level, Leaving Certificate), and are holders of a level eight degree, can apply for the Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary Teaching). This programme runs from February to June in the following year, and is open to graduates of all disciplines. Entry to the programme is determined by a general interview (100 points) and an oral Irish test (40 points). Applicants can apply to Limerick (Mary Immaculate College) or Dublin (St Patrick's College, Drumcondra, Coláiste Mhuire, Marino or Froebel College, Rathmines, Dublin). A decision to run this programme is made on a year-to-year basis by the Department of Education and Science, but is likely to continue for the near future.

In 2007, 280 places were on offer to graduates: 100 places each in Mary Immaculate College and in St Patrick's College, 50 places in Coláiste Mhuire and 30 places in Froebel College. Competition for places is very keen and approximately one in every 3.5 applicants is offered a place.

You can also apply for the blended learning programme offered by Hibernia College. Their Higher Diploma in Primary Education is HETAC accredited and fully recognised by the Department of Education & Science. The course blends online content with live virtual tutorials and face-to-face lectures at Regional Education Centres. It also includes 14 weeks of teaching practice, and a three-week stay in the Gaeltacht. Minimum requirements include a primary degree (HETAC Level 8 or equivalent) and a minimum grade C in Higher Level Leaving Certificate Irish. Eligible candidates are short-listed for an interview, half of which is conducted through Irish. Places on the course are highly sought-after, with rolling admissions and intakes of students twice annually.

Fees are in line with similar courses; however, one of  the advantages of this programme is that it does not incur the time or expense of daily travel or living away from home.

Finally, you can also apply to do a one-year programme in Britain, but must sit the Scrúdú le hAghaidh Cáilíochta sa Ghaeilge (SCG) on qualifying abroad, before being recognized as a fully qualified teacher in Ireland.

Brian Mooney is the former president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors.

E-mail questions to bmooney@irish-times.ie