One of the main reasons behind high college dropout rates was that many second-level students received no career guidance and others received it from unqualified teachers, it was claimed yesterday.
The Institute of Guidance Counsellors said it should not be a surprise to find poor rates in many universities when the provision of guidance was so poor.
"In many instances second-level students are choosing to pursue courses of study at third level without having the services of qualified guidance counsellors to guide and advise them," said Ms Roisin Kelleher, the group's president.
"We in the institute are also aware that students in some schools do not have the benefit of any guidance and counselling service," she added.
"The numbers of people involved in the guidance and counselling service who are not qualified guidance counsellors is another major issue which needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency by the Department of Education and Science. The dropout situation has existed for a number of years and has been highlighted on numerous occasions by the institute," she said.