NEW order is overtaking the profusion of qualifications offered by Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses. Increasingly, opting for a Post Leaving Certificate course means opting for a course which leads to an award from the newly established National Council for Vocational Awards (NCVA). There has been a dramatic increase in the number of PLC candidates taking NCVA awards over the past few years. In 1994 only 5,500 NCVA PLC students got NCVA awards; in 1996, there are 15,500.

The NCVA was set up in 1991 with responsibility for quality assurance and monitoring of national standards in vocational education and training programmes. A variety of assessment techniques are used, including school based assessment, network assessment (where a group of course providers come together) and central assessment. External examiners are appointed by the NCVA to ensure national standards where school based or network assessment exists.

PLC courses leading to NCVA awards are modular in nature, and students must reach the required standard in eight modules to be eligible for a NCVA level two award. The eight modules must include five vocational, two general studies (of which one must be communications) and one preparation for work or work experience.

The purpose of elective modules is to allow providers to design courses that respond to local needs. Some have been prepared by the NCVA and others have been prepared by the colleges. Modules are graded as pass, merit and distinction.

PLC courses which do not lead to NCVA awards may be validated by a variety of professional bodies, entering their students for the examinations of those bodies. For instance, the purchasing and materials management course in the College of Commerce, Cork, is validated by the Irish Institute of Purchasing and Materials while the diploma in studies and business management offered by the same college is validated by the British Institute of Commercial Management.

Some colleges offer British BTec awards, which are a national system of business and technology awards in the UK. Indeed, a number of PLC courses are in effect, third level courses with students being conferred with the British Higher National Diploma.

Most PLCs prepare students for work while others offer pretraining such as pre nursing or pre apprenticeship courses. A recent survey of PLC graduates showed that 61 per cent were employed, while 14 per cent went on to further study or training. PLCs offer a route into a variety of courses in the regional technical colleges and the Dublin Institute of Technology.

It is intended that NCVA level two awards will provide a direct route into the third level system, independent of the points system which applies to school leavers. Last year, under a pilot scheme, about 750 places were set aside in Regional Technical Colleges specifically for NCVA level two students; these places were not open to general competition by Leaving Cert students, only to PLC students with NCVA level two awards. This year the pilot scheme will also operate, with about 1,000 places to be reserved.

The NCVA has compiled a list of participating courses in each third level college and a corresponding list of NCVA level two awards. The courses span all disciplines from science, computers and engineering to art and design and business. Most of the courses are certificates, but a few ab initio diplomas are also on the list.

At present, participating courses are only available in the regional technical colleges but the possibility of providing places on 16 certificate and one diploma course in the DIT is currently under discussion. Not all NCVA level two graduates are guaranteed a place and colleges may choose on the basis of grades. However, the uptake was very low last year, with only about 10 per cent of available places being filled, so competition for places may not be a factor this year.

PLC courses which do not lead to NCVA awards may also provide a way into third level courses in the regional technical colleges. Four RTCs - Tallaght, Waterford, Athlone and Dundalk - operate a bonus points system (see panel). Some colleges may be even more flexible, allowing students with certain qualifications into the second year of selected courses. The situation with regard to the Dublin Institute of Technology is still under discussion.

A number of PLC colleges also have arrangements with British colleges. For instance, graduates of the two year journalism course in Colaiste Dhulaigh, in Dublin, may be able to transfer to the second year of an honours BA programme in the University of Luton. The two year architectural studies programme in the same college is designed with the twin aim of providing students with an introduction to architectural design and building related studies as well as providing them with the necessary skills to pursue a full time architectural degree in the UK.

Graduates may transfer to the second year of an honours BA degree in the University of Luton, the University of Westminster or South Bank University. Transfer is not automatic and may depend on the students' performance and an interview. Most PLCs are one year in duration but courses such as those mentioned above, obviously are of longer duration.