Advice: Brian Mooney
Your questions answered by education expert Brian Mooney. Send your query to askbrian@irishtimes.com
Ask Brian
My smartphone-addicted son refuses to go to school. What can we do?
- October 2, 2018
Ask Brian: Parents face daily battles to protect their children from compulsive gaming
Brian Mooney: How do I go about doing a postgrad course at a US university?
- September 25, 2018
There are lots of options – but costs are steep, so be sure to do your research
Ask Brian: What if I don’t pay the school’s ‘voluntary contribution’?
- August 28, 2018
Teachers should have no knowledge or interest in these financial matters
CAO deadline day: What students need to know
- June 25, 2018
All colleges ready to deal with last-minute queries from applicants
Brian Mooney: What you need to know before the exams begin
- June 5, 2018
An exam survival guide for Junior and Leaving Cert students (and parents)
Ask Brian: Are Irish universities set up to cater to international students?
- June 5, 2018
Rising numbers of non-Irish students are studying in Ireland – but it can be costly
Ask Brian: What chance is there of a loans scheme for higher education?
- May 22, 2018
Plan for loans are dead in the water – awaiting a decent burial
Ask Brian: I still can’t decide what course to choose. What should I do?
- May 8, 2018
Don’t rush into a course which doesn’t excite you – there is plenty of time to decide
Ask Brian: Will I get an exemption from Irish for the Leaving Cert?
- May 1, 2018
New data-sharing rules mean students must ensure the CAO is aware of Irish exemptions
Ask Brian: My son’s Leaving Cert politics exam clashes with another subject
- April 24, 2018
Students should not be expected to sit three Leaving Cert written papers in a single day
Ask Brian: My daughter is just 17. Should she defer going to college for a year?
- April 17, 2018
Some younger students may not be ready for the demands of third-level
Ask Brian: Can my daughter skip transition year?
- April 10, 2018
Schools have discretion to determine whether TY is compulsory or not
Ask Brian: I don’t know which teachers’ union I should join. Does it matter?
- April 3, 2018
Benefits differ in specific details, which could be significant over a lifetime
Ask Brian: My daughter wants to be a vet but her school doesn’t offer chemistry
- March 27, 2018
Lack of subject choice is a deep unfairness of the secondary system
Ask Brian: My daughter wants to be a pilot. How much will it cost?
- March 20, 2018
Courses are hugely expensive, though there are ways of cushioning costs
Ask Brian: I want to be a primary teacher but I’m worried about oral Irish
- March 13, 2018
Anxiety is normal. Intensify your preparation over the coming weeks
Ask Brian: Should my daughter skip transition year?
- March 6, 2018
This academic interlude is of immense benefit to students’ growth and development
Ask Brian: When I turn 18, am I entitled to receive my grades from school?
- February 27, 2018
18 year olds are entitled to be treated as adults by schools
My school says my complaints about a teacher are groundless
- February 20, 2018
Ask Brian: There are a number of options available once you’ve exhausted all avenues in school
Ask Brian: My daughter’s on a career break from teaching. Should she return home?
- February 13, 2018
Teaching posts may become harder to secure in future as numbers are projected to fall
Ask Brian: I’m a law graduate, but would prefer to teach. How do I qualify?
- February 6, 2018
There is a real lack of support available to encourage graduates into teaching
Ask Brian: Do I have to make my school’s ‘voluntary’ contribution?
- January 23, 2018
I am concerned that my decision will affect the school’s attitude to my son
Ask Brian: I left school early, but I want to boost my skills. What are my options?
- January 16, 2018
Your local Education and Training Board is a great place to get advice on what’s available
My child sits the Leaving in summer. What dates do I need to be home?
- January 9, 2018
Ask Brian: Under-pressure students likely to need support in the second half of August
Ask Brian: I never went to university. Can I return as a part-time mature student?
- January 2, 2018
There are options, though part-time access to mainstream degrees can be limited
I love athletics. What are my options for studying in the US?
- December 19, 2017
Ask Brian Mooney: It is a good idea to reach out to Irish student athletes based in America
My son wants to work in construction, what’s the best route in?
- December 12, 2017
Ask Brian: There are a multitude of career options in sector that is expanding again
Ask Brian: I work in business, but want to teach. How do I join the profession?
- December 5, 2017
The Teaching Council spells out the qualifcations required to teach in key areas
My daughter’s anxiety about the Leaving is getting worse. Is this normal?
- November 28, 2017
Ask Brian: Try easing the pressure by emphasising the range of options she has
Ask Brian: My son has dyslexia. Will he qualify for lower CAO points?
- November 21, 2017
Ask Brian: UCD arts has changed. How does this affect my deferred place?
- November 14, 2017
Applicants can choose between the arts programme or social sciences in 2018
Ask Brian: How can I help my daughter register for the right CAO course?
- November 7, 2017
It’s worth registering now, though there is plenty of time to select college courses
Ask Brian: What are my employment options in the financial sector?
- October 31, 2017
Apprenticeships now offer school-leavers a route into major firms in the finance sector
Ask Brian: Will my students be able to take the Irish oral exam this year?
- October 24, 2017
A union directive requiring schools to boycott oral exams has been suspended
Ask Brian: Where can my students get work experience in the tourism sector?
- October 16, 2017
New online programme offers a wealth of advice over how to get started in the industry
Ask Brian: Should my son do an apprenticeship instead of college?
- October 9, 2017
Earn and learn: Apprenticeships offer great options in new areas such as financial services
Ask Brian: Do I qualify for a postgraduate course grant?
- October 2, 2017
There are a range of assistance options, but they are subject to strict income limits
Ask Brian: I’m struggling with my college course. Should I drop out ?
- September 26, 2017
There can be heavy financial consequences depending on when you leave a course
Ask Brian: ‘My teacher isn’t qualified. Should I go to a grind school?’
- September 19, 2017
A shortage of qualified teachers in key subjects is a real problem across many schools
Ask Brian: My son wants to be a doctor but didn’t get the points. Are there other options?
- September 12, 2017
Many EU universities offer medical programmes through English
Ask Brian: What subjects should my daughter choose for the Leaving Cert?
- September 4, 2017
Transition year can be an amazing period of self-discovery for students
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