My child has had a difficult experience in secondary school and has not attended regularly for months. As he is only fifteen years old I am deeply concerned about the long-term implications of his non-attendance. Have you any advice?

You are right to be concerned. As a general rule, the longer one stays in education, the better one's prospects of sustainable employment. There are plenty of unskilled jobs in the Irish economy and some of them pay well. But taking up such jobs usually traps a person in a cycle of precarious low-skill employment.

There are two stages to what should happen now. The first is to identify the problem. Is it with the school? It could be a special education need (such as dyslexia) that has not been identified. If there is any sign of a learning difficulty, you should ask to have him assessed. If a need is identified, resources can be given to the school to assist him. However, this must be done carefully. Some adolescents see small 'slow' classes and withdrawal for reading as a sign of impending 'relegation'.

Early school leavers also identify two other reasons for throwing in the towel, problems with teachers and bullying. It is important to establish if either of these applies to your son.

The National Education Welfare Board may also be of assistance. Its priority is to work in areas of high disadvantage (RAPID areas). But its officers have a general remit. After all, your son has not yet reached the legal school leaving age. Its offices are listed under 'contact us' on its website (www.newb.ie).

Educational Welfare Officers can help to support a young person in returning to school, and this is the most desirable option. Others who can help include youth workers, Health Board staff and, if your son has engaged in any anti-social behaviour, the Garda Síochána's Juvenile Liaison Officers (JLOs).

The second stage is to identify what to do next. Your son may be attracted to a number of alternatives within school. For example, if he prefers a more experiential form of learning, he may be suited to the Leaving Certificate Applied programme

If, however, he cannot be persuaded to return to school, there are other alternatives. Chief among these is Youthreach (www.youthreach.ie). This programme provides the opportunity to return to education and training for those who leave school early with no qualifications.

Youthreach is offered in over 140 locations - at VEC and FÁS centres. Between them, they provide 6500 places nationally. The programme helps identify strengths and builds new skills and self-esteem. The majority of participants opt for FETAC qualifications at Foundation Level (www.fetac.ie). Those over 16 receive a small allowance, which may also help your son decide to return to education. It certainly helps when he explains his decision to his peers.

After a Foundation Phase in Youthreach young people return to school, progress to further education and training or enter the labour market. They are enabled to take FETAC Level 1 programmes, the ECDL, the Leaving Certificate Applied, or to choose from the suite of options provided by FAS and other agencies (www.fas.ie). The emphasis is increasingly on tailor made options, building on progress made in the Foundation phase. The intention is to help them achieve broadly the same outcomes as they would have had they remained in school.

There are some difficulties with this route, however. Most important of these is to do with access as -the programme is concentrated in areas of high disadvantage.

For this option, having contacted the National Education Welfare Board, you should then contact your local VEC or FÁS office.

Brian Mooney is president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. E-mail questions to bmooney@irish- times.ie