For the 10,100 students who sat the Leaving Certificate Vocational this year, the rewards are various. If you are one of those students, your reward, in terms of points, depends on which third-level college you want to attend. Some 10,100 students took the three LCV link modules - enterprise education, preparation for work and work experience - in addition to their traditional subjects. Usually, students take five to seven Leaving Cert subjects as well as the link modules. Assessment of the link modules is via a portfolio of course-work (60 per cent) and written examination (40 per cent). The link modules are then given a composite grade: a distinction (80100 per cent), a merit (65-79 per cent) or a pass (50-64 per cent).
With all the emphasis on the need for innovation, enterprise, and entrepreneurial skills, you would think these students would be suitably rewarded. In fact, last year, the institutes of technology allowed students to use these modules in place of a sixth subject, awarding 70 points for a distinction, 50 for a merit and 30 for a pass. The good news is that this year the universities and Dublin Institute of Technology are also allowing students to use the links modules for college entry. The bad news is that they are giving fewer points: 50 for a distinction, 40 for a merit and 30 for a pass.
One wonders why the universities and DIT find the link modules less valuable than the institutes of technology?
Creating a two-tier system is confusing for students, and it is also against the spirit of the common points system which allows students to calculate their points for college entry once and use the result of this calculation for all colleges within the CAO system.
There are already two exceptions to this rule: UL awards bonus points for higher-level maths (although other colleges have discontinued this practice since the introduction of the new higher-level maths syllabus); DIT awards bonus points for maths and some science subjects in the case of one degree only - electronics/electrical engineering.
College Places contacted the five private third-level colleges within the CAO system and found that they also differ in their attitude to the link modules. American College, Dublin, does not allow students to use them for the purposes of points while Dublin Business School, Griffith College, Dublin, LSB, Dublin, and Portobello College, Dublin, give 70 points for a distinction, 50 for a merit and 30 for a pass.
The helpline received a number of queries from distraught LCV students who thought they hadn't got any results for the links modules. The results are printed on the front of the form in Irish with an English translation on the back. A spokesman for the Department of Education said the Department's exams hotline, which is available to schools, received queries also. So, what about a little redesign on the results form next year?
Leaving Cert Applied
Almost 2,100 students sat an entirely different form of the Leaving Cert this year. The Leaving Cert Applied is assessed on an ongoing basis with the final exams only accounting for one-third of the overall marks. The programme includes preparation for work, practical courses and general education.
The Leaving Cert Applied may not be used for entry to third-level. So, where do these students go? Last year's graduates did very well with 91 per cent finding work or going on to further education.
In all, 38 per cent went directly into employment, with 22 per cent taking up places on post Leaving Cert courses, 19 per cent beginning apprenticeships, and 12 per cent pursuing courses offered by CERT, Teagasc and other education and training bodies. Just 4 per cent were seeking employment while the remaining 5 per cent were unavailable for work or their destination was unknown, according to a survey of 941 students carried out by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.
The route to third-level is not totally barred for Leaving Cert Applied students in that they may progress via Post Leaving Cert course to the first year of a certificate or diploma course. This year, about 2,000 third-level places have been reserved for students who hold the National Council for Vocational Awards level 2. Most PLC courses lead to this award. If you are choosing a PLC with third-level in mind, it is essential to check that the course articulates with a third-level course.
In some cases, a particular module will be specified and you must be sure this is included in the course you are doing. For instance, the NCVA certificate in applied science (food) articulates with Athlone IT's national certificate in science but your NCVA course must include a particular mathematical methods module.
The NCVA (tel: 837 2211) publishes a guide to the higher education links scheme listing NCVA certificates linked with higher education courses.
Nursing
Interest in general and psychiatric nursing has soared this year. Applications for places on three-year college-associated diploma are up 40 per cent on last year. This year, there were 5,560 applicants to the Nursing Careers Centre. Of these, 13 per cent put psychiatric nursing as their first preference.
All applicants were called to an assessment test earlier this year; 4,726 people sat the test in April.
About 3,400 applicants were called to interview on the basis of their performance in this test. Would-be nurses are competing for 783 general and 201 psychiatric training places. You must possess the minimum educational requirements laid down by the particular college as well as the Bord Altranais requirements. It is expected that offers will be made on Monday. All applicants will receive a letter from the Nursing Careers Centre. You will be informed if you have qualified for a place; if you are still in the running and may be offered a place later. Students who are offered their first preference have two choices - take it or leave it. You may not change your mind about your choice of college/hospital at this stage. In other words, the old "you can move up your list of choices but not down" applies here. If you are offered a choice other than your first, you can provisionally accept this offer and, if a vacancy arises, you may be offered a higher preference. You will have about a week to decide.
The acceptance fee is £50 and this will be refunded about three weeks into the course. Students do not have to pay college fees (these are paid by the health board or hospital) and they will receive a non-means-tested grant of £3,250 per year. This is paid in monthly instalments, with the first instalment paid in the second month of the course. The grant is considerably higher than the standard third-level grant which has a maximum of £1,690. However, nursing students do not enjoy the summer holidays as other third-level students so they don't have an opportunity to earn additional cash. In addition to the grants, nursing students get free uniforms, free meals and an allowance of up to £200 for their books.
Mental handicap nurse training applications are handled separately. There are 160 places available. Mature applicants and those who have qualified will be interviewed today and tomorrow while those are sitting their Leaving this year and who fulfil the requirements will be interviewed on August 23rd, 24th and 25th.
Repeat Leaving Cert
Ringsend Technical Institute is running an advice centre and interviews for repeat Leaving Cert students, weekdays, until August 30th (8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.) To make an appointment telephone (01) 668 4498. Repeat Leaving Cert fee is £140.
Cert
The State tourism training agency, CERT, is still accepting applications for national craft certificate courses. The following colleges have vacancies:
Dundalk IT: courses in professional cookery, hospitality and reception/ front office.
Limerick IT and CERT Centre, Raheen: professional cookery.
Athlone IT: professional cookery, hospitality, bar, tourism.
Tourism College, Killybegs: professional cookery, hospitality, bar, tourism, reception/front office.
Galway Mayo IT: professional cookery, hospitality, bar, travel agency.
If you are interested in any of the above contact CERT (tel: 01 884 7700) for details. College Places will appear from Monday to Friday for the duration of the college offers season. Teachers can place group orders for The Irish Times by calling 1 800 798884 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.