Your education questions answered by Brian Mooney

My eldest son is 24 years old and working in a local video store. He left school after fifth year when he was 17 because he was working part-time and refused to go back to school that September. Now he is stuck in a job he hates and he sees all his friends have graduated from college and are starting good, well-paid jobs. He seems to be getting quite depressed about it now. He lives in his own flat, so he has to pay rent etc and cannot afford to give up the job.

How can he go back to school or get qualifications? He has no Leaving Cert and only barely passed the Junior Cert. Can you suggest where I could get information for him? Does he have to do a Leaving Cert before he could do anything else? Will he have to pay to do so and, if so, how much? I am very concerned that if he does not do something now he may be stuck and never get out of the job he is in.

This is a problem facing many adults now. Many people, because there were jobs available, dropped out of school with no qualifications. However, there are some options open to your son at this stage.

As he is over 21, he could do a PLC (Post-Leaving Cert) course in his local VEC without a Leaving Cert, but this will be full time, Monday to Friday, so he would have to change his work schedule.

He could enrol for a part-time BTEI (Back to Education Initiative) course in his local VEC, which has a small fee for those who are working. He could do an evening course to get some qualifications, but he should get correct information, advice and guidance about which course to take.

Depending on which part of the country you live in, your son could get information from the local adult education guidance service. This service can provide information and guidance to some adults who do not have a Leaving Cert, but who want to go back to school or college. Unfortunately, the adult education guidance service is not in every part of the country yet, and may only be for people already attending adult education classes, depending on the area. It would be best to check with your local service by visiting www.ncge.ie and looking for the section on "adult education guidance initiative".

Otherwise, the only option open to your son at this stage would be to speak with an adult guidance counsellor who works privately. Call the Institute of Guidance Counsellors on 01-6761975 for details.

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science Síle de Valera has recently initiated the development of a national database of every course available to adults here. This project is due to be completed this year and a huge number of courses are already available on the system. If you want to check courses in your locality log on to www.qualifax.ie and click on "adult education".

Finally, any adult who is seriously thinking of returning to education - especially with a career change in mind - really should seek expert advice and guidance first. They will get all the relevant information to help them make an informed decision before they spend any money or enrol for any courses. Speaking to an adult guidance counsellor will give your son the chance to consider all of his options.

Brian Mooney is president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. E-mail questions to bmooney@irish- times.ie