Q: My son is doing the Leaving Cert Vocational Programme (LCVP) and I'm wondering how his results will be rated if he wants to go to college.
- Carlow mother
A: In the Leaving Cert Vocational Programme, certain link modules are available (such as work experience, preparation for work and enterprise education) which will be marked in place of a sixth Leaving Cert subject. If your son gets a pass in the link module, he will get 30 points while a merit and distinction will bring 50 and 70 points respectively. Not every college will awards this - RTCs will give points, but universities and DIT have not yet decided.
You also mention that he is taking home economics (general). Once again, while most colleges accept this as a subject equal to all others, NUI colleges such as NUI Cork (UCC), NUI Dublin (UCD), NUI Galway (UCG) and NUI Maynooth will not, except in the case of the B Ed courses in St Angela's College, Sligo.
In the case of his foundation-level maths for NUI colleges, while not counted for points, it can be included as a sixth subject for matriculation purposes for college entry.
Since he is doing the LCVP next June, he should contact each of the colleges in which he is interested. The colleges are undecided on many of these issues at the moment and may change their conditions before college entry in 1998. This situation has already caused much grief to LCVP students in 1997 and it's high time that it was clarified.
Q: I work as a physiotherapist with a health board. I'd like to go back to college to do a degree in medicine. Would any of the colleges consider my application? I'm 24 years old.
- Clare physiotherapist
A: Applications from mature students are looked at individually and colleges often look at other criteria over and above Leaving Cert results. For example, UCC had a quota of one place for mature students in medicine in 1997 and all applicants were short-listed and selected after interview.
UCD provides no special provisions for mature students in medicine - the only way you can get a place is by having the required points for entry in your Leaving Cert in the year in which you hope to go to college.
TCD reserves about 10 per cent of places for mature students and doesn't require specific entry requirements, although it does insist on aptitude tests and interviews.
UCG would seem to be the best option. Two applications from those in health-care occupations may be considered each year but you must have a professional qualification such as yours.
In the case of UCC and UCG you must apply to the CAO by February 1st next. For TCD apply by the same date to the Admissions Office, West Theatre, Trinity College, Dublin 2. I understand you do not wish to apply to the Royal College of Surgeons because of the fees implications.
Q: I have a primary degree in arts in English and geography. Can I qualify as a Montessori teacher by doing a diploma or will I have to undertake three more years of study?
- Wicklow graduate
A: You could qualify as a Montessori teacher by taking a one-year postgraduate diploma in St Nicholas Montessori College, Dun Laoghaire - phone (01) 280 6064. This qualification is approved by the National Council for Educational Awards (NCEA). There is also the one-year post-graduate diploma in the Montessori College, Milltown, Dublin - phone (01) 269 2499 - which is a recognised college of the Association of Montessori Internationale (AMI).
The graduate diploma in humanities at the Dun Laoghaire college aims to give a wide knowlege of educational practices in conjunction with the Montessori method of education and so enables students to achieve a high level of practical competence with children between 2 1/2 and six years. It does not qualify you to teach children over six years in the Montessori system.
The main subjects are practical life, sensorial, language, mathematics, social sciences and creative arts using Montessori materials, modules on psychology, special education, Irish, English literature, art history and art appreciation.
The Milltown college is the only college in Ireland which provides the AMI diploma which is recognised internationally. Again it qualifies you to teach children from three up to six years old. These courses are suitable for graduates, nurses, and primary school teachers.
Q: My son is interested in working with small animals. Apart from being a vet, what other options are open to him? What costs are involved? What subjects are studied?
- Donegal parent
A: There is a course designed to meet the needs of students who are employed in an approved veterinary clinic and who wish to study for the exams of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons as registered nursing auxiliaries.
As well as being employed in an approved clinic, he would need to have a minimum of five passes in the Leaving Cert which must include maths and English or equivalent.
This is a part-time course over two years, two evenings a week, at DIT Kevin Street. Fees are £345 for year one and £125 for the second year. The subjects for year one are anatomy and physiology, first aid, theory and practice of nursing including dietetics, management, hygiene and feeding. Year two includes diagnostic aids, medical and surgical nursing, radiography, obstetrical and paediatric nursing.
On completion, the student is eligible to apply for posts working in animal houses, veterinary clinics and animal homes where trained animal nurses are required. Further information is available from the School of Biological Sciences, DIT Kevin St. Dublin 8.
Letterkenny RTC
Graphics & Industrial Design Courses 1998: The college asks us to point out a change in the assessment of portfolios for these courses for 1998 entry. Submission of a portfolio is optional but not required. Please check page 34 of the 1998-1999 prospectus
Questions can be answered only through this column and not by phone or post. Write to Sile Sheehy, Education & Living, The Irish Times, D'Olier Street, Dublin 2 - or by email to education@irish-times.ie
