Fewer than one-third of adult-education providers at third-level and VEC colleges use a computer in their guidance work, according to a new survey. The survey, conducted last year, found that only 30 per cent of adult-education officers surveyed in the universities, VEC colleges and institutes of technology said they used a computer in this kind of work.

They "clearly identified a need for wide-ranging support for this area of IT, that is in training, information on existing software, regular updates and greater Irish content in what is available," the report on the survey concludes.

The survey was carried out by NUI Galway-based student Josephine McCann, who says she had a 51 per cent response rate to her questionnaire, or a total of 35 respondents to the survey. A number of those who responded in the study to an open question inviting comments said they did not regard guidance as part of their remit.

"Although some officers are clearly conscious of the value of guidance for adult students, some do not regard it as part of their remit - despite the fact that they do have overall responsibility for provision of adult education in their respective regions," the study concludes.

One officer in the VEC sector said "guidance does not come within my responsibilities". Another in the same sector said: "I don't know what you mean by guidance. At best adult-education officers provide very limited guidance. It is not an advertised service. It is an `ad-hoc, add-on' rather than an integral part of the work of AEOs."

The study of IT as used by providers of guidance in adult education also indicates concern among respondents about their computer competency. The need for training, in both hardware and software, has been identified by all sectors in the study, she writes. "Software has been particularly highlighted. On-going support, awareness and development of Irish related software is required.

"Greater contact and co-operation between the sectors must be encouraged. Those who have a long-established record in the provision of guidance have much expertise to share with newer entrants in the field of guidance."

The percentages in her study, she explains, show "an overall large increase" in the use of the Internet, as compared to a post-primary study under taken by the National Centre for Guidance in Education in 1998.