Madam, – Brian Canavan (June 4th) suggests that the Leaving Certificate age be raised. If you raised the Leaving Cert age in the morning, what would you do with all the children and teenagers currently in the education system?
Many senior cycle students would balk at the idea of having to spend even longer in school. Starting primary school at four and assuming a six-year Leaving Cert cycle brings you to age 18. If students are allowed to vote at 18, they are probably old enough to choose a college course. If not, they can bank their Leaving Certificate results and take a gap year while they ponder their future. There is no rule saying you must choose your college course the year you do your Leaving Cert. The choice to defer filling in the CAO form is there. – Yours, etc,