My son says he’ll lose his PUP payment if he takes up a further education course

My son dropped out of college during first year in early 2020 after a single semester. He was working full-time in a restaurant which has since closed due to Covid. I tried to convince him to do a Post-Leaving Cert (PLC) course, but he baulked when he realised he’d lose his PUP payment. Can you suggest any other options for resuming his education?

Your son’s situation is replicated in many homes up and down the country. The conversion rate from PLC applications to enrolment dropped sharply in 2021, in part due to the fact that many applicants were in receipt of various forms of State support which they would have lost if they returned to full-time education. It’s one thing to relinquish weekly payments having been offered a place on a long sought-after degree, quite another for an eight-month level five PLC programme.

As a 2019 Leaving Cert graduate he is also in the unfortunate position of seeing his CAO points score value eroded by the calculated and accredited grade processes of 2020 and 2021. There is no way of knowing what way points requirements may develop in August 2022 but I expect them to fall back somewhat from 2021 levels.

You have asked me how you might support him at this time so I will give you a couple of suggestions.

Why aren’t we teaching pupils more about the EU?

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My daughter is very environmentally aware, are there viable careers in this area?

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My son wants to do transition year – but is a ‘doss year’ a good idea?

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My son isn’t interested in going to college. How can we change his mind?

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Do not pressurise him with questions regarding the place he and many of his peer group find themselves in. Those of us who have lived full lives and are fortunate to have been able to retreat into the relative safety of our families during the pandemic have no real understanding what it must be like to be primed to fly the nest and be unable to do so.

The key to mental health is to retain as far as possible an open, respectful relationship where the space to express the frustrations and anxieties arising from our ongoing restricted lives can be spoken about openly and freely.

A CAO application for 2022 can be made up until February 1st without any decisions having to be made on course choices until well into June. It might be a useful investment. There is also the PLC option which will remain live right up until further education colleges resume in August.

He might also consider contacting his original school principal. Many guidance counsellors would be more than happy if asked by their school principal to have an online conversation with a recently graduated former student.

Right now in the depths of winter his prospects may look bleak, but spring is on the way and hopefully Covid-19 has thrown its last punch. Hopefully, we can look to your son and his compatriots to reimagine and create our post-pandemic world. Ní neart go cur le chéile.