Guidance counsellors say disappointment with today’s results should not mean an end to further study or career aspirations.

Almost 54,500 people have already entered the race for college places this autumn up to last Friday’s early Central Applications Office (CAO) deadline.

CONCERNS have been raised about the quality of pre-school provision after the cutting of staffing levels allowed by providers who will also receive €2 week less per child from next September.

THE dangers of further cuts to school staffing and budgets will be worsened by the inability of families to make up the shortfalls, a parents’ leader has warned.

PARENTAL concerns over monitoring pubs and clubs for underage drinking have hindered plans to issue this year’s Junior Certificate results on a Friday.

AS THOUSANDS of students began the search for accommodation after taking up third-level places, parents have called on colleges to allow families breathing space to pay their fees.

THE head of the group representing second-level parents has urged teacher unions to end industrial action which is deepening a management crisis in schools.

A PARENTS’ leader has said unions representing teachers should remain in talks instead of closing down schools in the proposed public service strike next month.

PARENTS have given cautious backing to plans for a student loans scheme to replace free college fees, describing it as the best of a bad list of options.

PARENTS have warned Leaving Certificate students could be left with just days to change their college course applications if Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe announces the reintroduction of third level fees next month.

PARENTS groups have called for all buses carrying young people to be placed under the same regulations as those operating under the State-funded school transport system.

THE Bishop of Meath Michael Smith was among those to offer his condolences to the family of Michael White and the local community yesterday.

Niall Murray Education Correspondent

THE eight-week wait is almost over for 59,000 students who will receive their Leaving Certificate results tomorrow.

ONE could almost have sympathy for Education Minister Mary Hanafin when, with a helpless shrug, she pleaded that it was not possible to have every school bus fitted with seat belts by September.

A PARENTS’ leader has rejected Education Minister Mary Hanafin’s claim that seat belts cannot be fitted on all school buses before September, saying that money was the only thing stopping their installation.

PARENTS have called for the immediate fitting of seat belts in all school buses to help prevent a repeat of Monday’s tragic events.

MOST students who have applied for college places will be able to find out if they have been offered one of their preferred courses on Monday.

THE Government should continue to fund an umbrella body for second-level parent groups rather than funding each organisation individually, a major review has recommended.