CAO and university route is not the only way to college

With all the hoohaa about getting a place in college, you'd be forgiven for thinking that university and the CAO was the only way to go. But it's worth remembering that there are very many other options for young people, who, for one reason or another, won't be taking up an offer from the Central Applications Office this year.

First, if you haven't got a college place but are interested in furthering your education it's worth considering a Post Leaving Cert course. These are usually of one or two years' duration and often lead people directly into jobs. However, some PLCs are proving an excellent indirect route in to third level, while others give an opportunity to study subjects unavailable elsewhere. (See page 13 for further details.)

PLCs apart, CERT, FAS, Teagasc, the Defence Forces and the Garda are among the career routes open to young people who have completed the Leaving Cert.

The current boom in the tourism industry has lead to a huge demand for staff in the hotel, catering and hospitality industry. To meet the need, CERT increased the number of places on many courses last year. CERT courses, which are of one or two years duration are offered in 14 colleges throughout the country.

Courses include professional cookery, restaurant service, hospitality, tourism, bar and reception. A new programme in travel agency skills is being piloted in September at both Tallaght and Galway/ Mayo ITs. Although many courses commencing in the autumn are now full, it's still worth applying, CERT says. Successful applicants are offered an excellent package which covers tuition fees, uniforms, some books and other specialist equipment, a weekly training grant and a main meal provided in the college.

If you're interested in rural pursuits, a Teagasc course might suit you.

Teagasc offers 1,100 places in agriculture and 150 places in horticulture in 11 different colleges. Courses include a one year certificate course followed by a two year diploma course and are designed to provide young people with the skills and knowledge to meet the needs of the industry.

According to Dr David O'Connor, head of education at Teagasc, two-thirds of agriculture graduates become farmers. Others go into agribusiness. "There's a lot of gloom and doom talked about farming but the employment opportunities are good," he says. "More viable farms are offering employment." Horticulture, meanwhile, is a thriving area, he says, with lots of opportunities particularly in garden centres, landscape gardening and nursery production. Teagasc is still accepting applications, but O'Connor notes that only a few vacancies in horticulture remain.

This year the Defence Forces aim to recruit up to 550 enlisted personnel into the Army and the Naval Service. "So far we have taken in 250, and we plan to take in another 300 before the end of the year," comments Capt Connor Lynch. Candidates must be aged between 17 and 22 years and be able to satisfy the recruiting officer that they possess a sufficient standard of education for service in the Defence Forces. Height requirements are 55["]for male candidates and 54["]for female. All applicants undergo medical examinations and physical fitness assessments. Direct entry into the Army apprenticeships has been discontinued and apprentices are now selected from among the soldiers. However, up to 20 naval service apprentices may be recruited later this year.

Each year the Defence Forces recruit 60 officer cadets. These positions are advertised in May and prospective candidates are advised to watch the newspapers during this period. Minimum education requirements include grade C in three higher level papers and grade D in three ordinary level papers in a single Leaving Certificate.

The Garda's most recent recruitment campaign has just been completed and the closing date for applications is August 19th. As result, some 500 student gardai will make their way to the Garda College, Templemore, Co Tipperary. The Garda has recruited on three occasions between 1988 and 1997, so if you miss this round it's likely that you will have to wait until 2002 before you get another chance - unless, that is, the Minister for Justice decides we need more gardai in a hurry.

Applicants, aged between 18 and under 26 years on June 1st 1999, must be 59["](male) and 55["]( female). They must have gained at least a grade D in five subjects at ordinary level, including Irish, English and maths in either the Leaving Cert or the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme. A merit in the Leaving Cert Applied is also a valid qualification.

Sadly, if you haven't applied already, you're probably too late. The Garda say that application forms are available on written application only and that no application forms will be issued by post on foot of requests received on the closing date.

One way of almost guaranteeing yourself a job these days is to successfully complete a FAS apprenticeship course. There are currently some 18,767 apprentices registered in Ireland, working in 25 trades, according to Robert Murphy who is manager, apprenticeship services. Most popular of trades is that of electrician (4,832), followed by carpenter/joiner (3,269), plumber (1,826), motor mechanic (1,248) and fitter (1,100).

Apprenticeship training consists of six phases. Phases one, three and five take place on the job; phase two takes place in a FAS training centre, while phases four and six are carried out in the Institutes of Technology. Apprenticeships are gained by word of mouth, through advertisements and through FAS employment centres. Of the 18,767 registered apprentices, almost 9,000 have Leaving Cert qualifications. However, the minimum entry requirement is five Ds at Junior Cert.

Apprentices are currently being taken on at the rate of 100 per week, according to Robert Murphy - mostly in the construction industry. The good news though is that it's not too late to apply. And successfully completing an apprenticeship programme does not necessarily mean that you will be stuck in the same role for life.

Murphy points out that management and supervisory positions in small and medium-sized businesses in Ireland are dominated by people who have served apprenticeships. Many vocational teachers and lecturers in the Institute of Technology sector also started out as apprentices. "People with apprentice qualifications can continue on into further and higher education," he notes. The skills acquired are also transferable into other areas.

Everyone successfully completing an apprenticeship gains a National Craft Certificate (NCC) which boasts international recognition and, importantly, is recognised in the EU.

Contact

CERT admissions department: 01 884 7700

Teagasc: 01 6688188 or any of the individual colleges.

Defence Forces: 1890 426 555

Garda Siochana: 01 6662036

FAS: your local FAS centre.