Over 50,000 apply for college places
The figure is 2,730 higher than the 51,761 who did so by the same time last year, but the rise could be explained by a rush to avail of a reduced fee. The main cut-off is on Wednesday, Feb 1, although late CAO applications will be accepted up to May 1 and will require payment of a higher fee.
With tuition fee rises in English, Welsh and Northern universities this year, there is already evidence of falling Irish applications to study in Britain, which could create more pressure for places in August. The CAO received over 76,000 applications last year, and filled 45,700 college places.
As Leaving Certificate students focus on CAO course choices, National Parents Council-Post Primary (NPC-PP) and the Institute of Guidance Counsellors (IGC) have urged Education Minister Ruairi Quinn to reverse staffing cuts which could force schools to reduce guidance and counselling services. As part of the 2012 budget, schools must include guidance counselling hours or jobs within their overall teacher allocation.
The move will save €10m this year and €30m annually from 2013. As a result, schools will be forced to decide whether to reduce guidance provision, remove subject choices, mix higher and ordinary level classes, or a combination of these.
NPC-PP spokesperson Jackie O’Callaghan and IGC president Eilis Coakley said the move essentially increases the pupil-teacher ratio. But more importantly they said, it will remove a highly specialised area of education that most people will not be able to access privately.
“It is a service our students need more than ever, in a time when job prospects are abysmal and emigration looks like one of the few options our young people have.
“The NPC-PP and the IGC jointly exhort the Minister for Education to reconsider his decision in light of the long term damaging economic, educational and social consequences for our young people,” they said.
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