College Choice:Next Monday marks the start of a new academic year for most second-level schools, so in a sense today marks the end of the annual education cycle, writes Brian Mooney
For the Leaving Certificate class of 2007, this marks the end of their association with the second-level system and their entry into the world of continuous education, training, employment, or simply a gap year to sit back and reflect on the path ahead.
Decision time for CAO first-round offers
For those of you accepting a place offered in round one of the CAO application process, you have until Tuesday next at 5.15pm to confirm your acceptance or your offer of a place will lapse.
By Friday, those places not accepted will be offered to the next students on the waiting list in each course where places are not accepted.
The number of places offered in the second round next Friday may be quite modest and points may not come down in many courses. Alternatively, many colleges are still offering vacant places on the CAO website, so there are still excellent courses available.
Opportunities beyond the CAO
Up to 10,000 of the 2007 Leaving Certificate class did not apply to the Central Applications Office. If you are one such student, the opportunities outlined below may be of interest to you.
Post Leaving Cert (PLC) courses
More than 90 per cent of those participating in PLC courses do so following successful completion of the Leaving Certificate and 85 per cent who complete PLC courses progress to employment or further education or training.
Beyond improving a student's work opportunities, PLC courses are certified by Fetac, with many learners using their awards with the specific intention of progressing to third level, through a system known as the Higher Education Links Scheme.
Awards are in the following disciplines: health and welfare (41 per cent), social sciences, business and law (30 per cent) and humanities and arts (14 per cent).
County Dublin VEC is operating an information helpline and advice service until September 12th, on 1800 20 40 80, with qualified adult education guidance staff. Potential students can also visit CDVEC's new updated website: www.cdvec.ie.
Nursing
If you are interested in nursing but you did not secure a degree offer, 12 colleges offer a very small number of places in nursing to holders of awards, offered at PLC level via the Fetac level five awards in nursing studies (DCHSN), community and health services (DCHSX) and healthcare support (DHSXX).
To progress on to a higher degree programme, you will have to secure distinctions in all eight of your modules, including anatomy and physiology, introduction to nursing and human growth and development or biology.
FÁS Apprenticeships
The apprenticeship programmes operated through Fás attract few females. To change this, Fás is now offering a bursary to employers.
The bursary provides a total grant of €2,667 to each employer for each female apprentice recruited.
At present more than 29,000 apprentices are in training, of whom approximately 16,300 have their Leaving Certs. The apprenticeship system is a modular standards-based one, generally comprising of seven alternating phases of on-the-job and off-the-job training and development.
These alternating phases of training consist of three off-the-job phases and four on-the-job phases.
On successful completion of the apprenticeship, apprentices receive a National Craft Certificate, recognised in Ireland and other EU and non-EU countries.
Given the massive sums committed by Government, under both the National Development Plan and the Transport 21 agenda, it would seem that the prospects for those embarking on an apprenticeship programme remains good. For further information go to www.fas.ie
Careers in the tourist industry
If you don't see yourself in a nine to five office job, why not consider a career in the tourism industry.The tourism sector is one which can guarantee immediate employment to trained professionals.
Fáilte Ireland is still recruiting for its full and part-time courses in institutes of technology around the country.
For further information, contact the People in Tourism Centre at Fáilte Ireland on 1850 256 256 or e-mail courses@failteireland.ie or www.failteireland.ie.
• This series has concluded. Brian Mooney'sQ &A column returns next month.