More guidance counsellors needed to tackle disadvantage, says report

MORE guidance counsellors are needed in schools to help improve access to third-level education for disadvantaged students, a report has found.

The issue is one of a number raised in a report on equality and access in Dublin, which has the second lowest level of third-level participation in the country.

In schools of up to 500 students, the guidance counsellor must spend at least 11 hours teaching standard subjects in class, although some schools have benefited from increased hours under recent Government initiatives. A 2000 study found that no guidance time is spent with junior cycle students in almost one quarter of disadvantaged schools.

The authors of the latest report, Dr Ted Fleming and Anne Gallagher from NUI Maynooth, recommend further increases in the allocation of career guidance counsellors.

“Their role in relation to the issues of student achievement, retention and aspirations is of central importance, but the levels of provision are far below those required to bring about change,” they said.

“Recommendations on increased guidance provision need to be acted on as a matter of urgency, particularly in relation to provision at the early stages of second level when subject choices are being made which impact on later third-level options.”

Another concern is the absence of advice and support to students when they receive offers of college places during the school holidays.

The report, commissioned by the Dublin Employment Pact, examined a number of access programmes set up by third-level institutions to increase interest in college among students in disadvantaged communities. These include revision courses, career information and visits to college campuses Other studies have recommended increased resources to these programmes to counteract the negative impact of excessive part-time work, which is more common among students at disadvantaged schools.

The report recommends the Department of Education provide increased funding for measures to widen access to third-level. It also calls for adequate grants for third-level students, the inclusion of access issues in teacher training, and better transport routes to colleges. The issues raised in the report will be discussed at a Dublin Employment Pact seminar next week. Many of the issues may be addressed by the National Office for Access Equity, which is expected to be operating by next autumn.