Sir - I would, of course, concur with what Dr Thomas Mitchell said in his articles (July 23rd and 24th). Undoubtedly, the greatest need for significant intervention is at primary school level (where enduring patterns of participation or drop-out are established).
On the question of bridging courses to third level, I wish to refer to the experience of my college, which for many years has successfully offered a bridging course to DIT. Pass-level Leaving Cert students acquire a foundation which allows special entry to DIT degree programmes. Successful students are told of their DIT place at the end of the course in June. Invariably these students (including many who would not resit the Leaving cert) are not among those who fail in subsequent years.
One-year access courses for those in their 20s who left school early and are unemployed are also readily available under the VTOS scheme which sufficiently resources both the student and the provider. However, in the case of both bridging and access courses, the take-up by the target group in question can be less than satisfactory. Hence the need for a comprehensive initiative at primary level in disadvantaged areas of Dublin. - Yours, etc.,
Jerome Morrissey, Principal
Senior College Ballyfermot, Dublin 10.