Your education questions answered

Could you possibly help a very confused mother and child? My lad is in his Leaving Cert year and his biggest wish is to do education at the NCAD - he wants to teach art. He should get an average Leaving Cert and he is good at art. We know that the portfolio and interview are more important than the marks even though it goes through the CAO system. What we don't know is what is required in the portfolio or what the interview involves.

Also, should he fail to get in what can he put down as second choice? As far as I know, the NCAD is the only place in Dublin where you can do art education and it would have to be in Dublin as there is no possibility of him being able to afford to live anywhere else but at home. I know he can do a PLC course, but he does not seem to keen to do this and I am under the impression you can't take a gap year in the NCAD - is this true?

NCAD has a portfolio guidelines leaflet, which should be in his school or can be sent out free on request and there is also information on portfolio content in the NCAD prospectus. In brief, the portfolio should contain his sketchbooks and a balanced selection of his work including, for instance, observational drawing, painting, design and a photographic record of any three-dimensional work he has made. A sample of written work in the history and appreciation of art and design should be included. The absolute maximum would be 20 pieces, but he shouldn't worry about quantity and if he can show his abilities and interests through fewer pieces that is fine.

The portfolio should emphasise the drawing skills of the applicant. Applicants will also be sent a short drawing test prior to interview.

Applicants are usually interviewed in a small group setting, where they get the opportunity to talk about their own art/design and educational experiences and interests. The interviewers will be looking for applicants who have an interest in the visual arts, are highly motivated towards teaching as a career, enjoy working with young people, have a lively mind and good communicative skills. Applicants are not required to have completed a PLC course and he should apply straight from school.

There are two ways your son can get a teaching qualification in art. One is to complete the BA in art and design education at NCAD. The other way is by doing an arts or science degree and then a higher diploma. A student may complete any art or design diploma or degree course, which is recognised by the Registration Council for Secondary Teachers, and then apply to the higher diploma in art and design education at NCAD or the diploma for art and design teachers at IT Limerick or IT Cork.

The NCAD has 11 other degree courses besides the BA in art and design education and they are all recognised by the registration council. For a place in year one of the NCAD's other degree courses he should apply to First Year (Core), for which application is direct to NCAD and not through CAO.

If he is interested in industrial design, he should apply to LM072 (the first year of this four-year course is in the University of Limerick). For other recognised Dublin-based courses he should check with the DIT and Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology . Brian Mooney is president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. You can e-mail him your questions to bmooney@irish-times.ie