Students in the Post Leaving Cert sector do not get maintenance grants because their courses are not recognised as third-level. However, earlier this summer, the Minister for Education, Micheal Martin, gave a firm commitment to introduce "equitable support of students attending PLC courses". But there has been no development on this as yet, according to a Department of Education spokesman.
Lack of funding for PLC students has become a major issue. Many students have to commute to do the course they have chosen. Some have to find accommodation away from home. For example, there are up to 600 students in the College of Commerce, Cork, staying in digs and apartments in the city. Some of the most exciting and innovative courses on offer fall within the PLC sector. They range from motor technology to the performing arts, from sports and recreation to theatre studies.
Up to 18,000 students enrolled on PLC courses last year. Although the number was not up on the year before, due to the take-up of the Transition Year option, the number of certificates awarded this summer rose by 10 per cent on 1996. Over 12,000 students were awarded NCVA level 2 award at the beginning of the month.
Most PLC courses are run in VEC colleges and in an increasing number of community, comprehensive and second-level schools. It is estimated that there are about 300 centres in the Republic offering NCVA level 2 awards. An award on successful completion of a course is made by the National Council for Vocational Awards, which was established in 1991 to develop a comprehensive certification system for the wide range of vocational education and training programmes that are still coming on stream.
Most PLC courses last one year and most students study for a NCVA level 2 certificate. However, a number of the larger PLC colleges have developed courses which run for two, three or four years. These are certified by British and Irish colleges and institutes. For example, the College of Commerce, Cork, offers a four-year Marketing Institute of Ireland programme and Ballyfermot Senior College, Dublin, offers nine BTEC higher national diplomas which equate to the national certificate.
No fees are charged for PLC coures. However, students may have to pay for books, uniforms/clothing and equipment where the items become the property of the trainee. There are also student-services fees, registration charges by professional bodies and exam fees. Schools may charge a deposit - up to £30 - to secure a place on a programme and this is not refundable when students do not enrol on the course.
All NCVA awards are modular in nature and students must reach the required standard in eight modules to be eligible for the NCVA level 2 award. The modules must include five vocational, two general studies (one of which must be communicaitons) and one preparation for work or work experience. National standards for awards have been set by the council in consultation with employers and course providers.
While many PLCs prepare students for work, others offer pre-training in the form of pre-apprenticeship or pre-nuring 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. The ESRI school leavers' survey (1993-1995) found that 83 per cent of those entering the labour market with a vocational qualification, after Leaving Cert, are employed one year later.
The PLC colleges have been quick to move on trends in employment. As evidence of this, details about a new two-year PLC course in the teleservices area will be announced this week, according to Cynthia Deane Fogarty, chief executive of the NCVA. This course will allow up to 690 students to study at up to 20 centres around the country for this particular growth area in the jobs market. The decision to approve this course recognises the necessity to produce highly-qualified people at non-graduate level for the services sector, as well as for industry. It also recognises the important role of the PLCs in this provision.
A scheme to encourage students to progress to higher education, which was initiated in 1995 with about 1,000 places reserved for NCVA candidates, will be evaluated this autumn. The Higher Education Links Scheme gave holders of a NCVA level 2 award the chance to progress to designated certificate and diploma courses on the CAO/CAS list. The DIT and each RTC had designated certain courses for NCVA applicants. The take-up rate of this three-year pilot course improved over the three years, according to Deane Fogarty.
