Rungs on ladder of opportunity

SOME OF THE MOST unusual and exciting courses on offer to school leavers fall within the Post Leaving Certificate sector. This year, about 18,000 students are studying diverse subjects.

The PLC colleges have been quick to move on trends in employment. Beauty therapy, for example is an expanding area, and PLC courses allow students to prepare for professional exams such as CIBTAC and CIDESCO.

Some colleges have developed particular specialities, such as rock music at Ballyfermot Senior College, Dublin, or organic horticulture at Drumcollagher Community College, Co Limerick.

While many PLCs prepare students for work, others offer pretraining in the form of pre apprenticeship or pre nursing studies or portfolio preparation. A

survey of 1992-93 graduates showed that 60.7 per cent were employed, while 13.6 per cent went on to further study or training. PLCs provide a route into many certificate and a few ab initio diploma courses in the regional technical colleges and the Dublin Institute of Technology.

Most PLCs last one year, though two and three year courses are becoming more common. Increasingly, these courses are certified by the National Council for Vocational Awards (NCVA). In 1994, there were 5,500 NCVA candidates in 1996, there are 15,500.

All NCVA awards are modular in nature and students must reach the required standard in eight modules to be eligible for an NCVA level 2 award. The eight modules must include five vocational, two general studies (one of which 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, others have been prepared by the colleges. The modules are graded pass, merit and distinction.

The which was set up insurance and monitoring of national standards in vocational education and training programmes. School based assessment is a feature of most NCVA modules. In addition, network assessment, where a group of course providers come together, is also in operation.

The NCVA also devises and implements central assessment for some modules. External examiners are appointed by the NCVA to ensure national standards where school based or network assessment exists.

PLCs ARE MAINLY provided by the VEC sector but, increasingly, community, comprehensive and secondary schools are also offering PLCs. There are no fees for PLC courses, but students may have to pay for books, uniforms/clothing and equipment (tore example, chef's knives) where the items become the property of the trainee there are also student services fees, registration charges by professional bodies and examination fees.

Schools may charge a deposit (maximum £30) to secure a place on a programme. This ii not refundable when students do not enrol on the course. Where they do, the deposit will either be refunded or withheld as a down payment for the charges mentioned. PLCs are not recognised as third level courses and, hence, students do not qualify for maintenance grants.

It is intended that NCVA level 2 awards will provide a direct route into third level, independent of the points system creating the much vaunted ladder of opportunity. Unfortunately, it's not quite as simple as that yet. Indeed, last year, there were about 750 places available for NCVA level 2 students, but fewer than 10 per cent were filled. This may be due, in part, to the late implementation of the scheme and confusion.

This year, a pilot scheme is once again in operation and about 1,000 places will be available. The NCVA has compiled a list of courses in each RTC and the corresponding NCVA level 2 awards.

Not all students with these qualifications are guaranteed places and colleges may choose on the basis of grades obtained. The certificates and ab initio diplomas listed cover the entire spectrum from art and design to business, from science and computers to engineering.

Students who are considering using a PLC as an entry route to third level need to check the course codes of the NCVA level 2 awards which are acceptable for the particular course in the particular college they are interested in (the NCVA list is invaluable). This is essential, as not all colleges accept the same 2 awards. Students apply for the relevant third level course through the CAO/CAS system, filling in the special category box. The form does not ask for the NCVA course code, so some confusion will probably still sign.

PLC courses which are not NCVA validated also offer a route to third level courses in the RTCs. The situation with the DIT is still under discussion. Tallaght, Waterford, Athlone and Dundalk RTCs all operate a bonus points system (see panel). Some colleges may be even more flexible. For instance, students with BTec qualifications may get into the second year of some courses in Dundalk RTC. A number of colleges also have transfer arrangements with British universities.

For students interested in the PLC sector, it would be wise to apply as soon as possible. PLCs are not an alternative for "also rans" in the points race. Students who wait until after the CAO/CAS offers have come out may find they have also missed the PLC boat, as many of the popular courses fill early.