Sir, – I think the overemphasis by schools and parents on the Leaving Cert as a guaranteed portal to success and achievement is myopic, and driven by antiquated snobbery and the idea of education as a status symbol.
I’ve long been attracted to the education and skills pathway offered for further and ongoing education by the Further Education and Training Awards (Fetac) system, which can be accessed at any time in the course of an individual’s life when circumstances, maturity, ambition and pursuit of new or different skills visit them.
Starting at entry Level 4, over time it is possible to climb the Fetac skills ladder to honours degree, master’s and doctoral level, if motivated, without ever having had to suffer the travails of the Leaving Cert.
So my advice to Leaving Cert students is chill out and relax, and the future looks after itself irrespective of the exam outcome.
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And remember that up to 30 per cent of students drop out of some third-level courses in the first year despite achieving the points demanded to gain entry. – Yours, etc,
TOMÁS FINN,
Cappataggle,
Ballinasloe,
Co Galway.
