Crowe Commends Guidance Work in Results Week
Speaking in advance of the release of this year’s Leaving Certificate results for 2012, which are due out on Thursday, 17 August, Sinn Féin Education Spokesperson Seán Crowe commended the National Parents’ Council for providing a National Helpline for students and their parents
Describing the helpline as an “essential service that will be of great help during what is often a stressful and difficult time for students an their parents” Deputy Crowe also paid tribute to the work of School Guidance Councillor in providing vital support and advice to Leaving Certificate Students, their Parents or Guardians.
Deputy Crowe said: “The Leaving Cert Guidance Helpline phone number can be contacted at 1800265165 and it is run courtesy of the National Parents Council in association with sponsors like the Irish Independent, Eircom, the Department of Education and Skills and also has the the support of the Institute of Guidance Cntireounsellors .
“The Helpline is operated over the eperiod that the Leaving Certificate results being issued, to the release of the first round CAO offers. It gives students and parents an opportunity to access basic information on points accrued in the exam, changes to course application, exam result recheck , and a lot of additional course information is provided by fully qualified staff.
“School Guidance Counsellors should be commended for the vital service they provide over the entire stressful period of the Leaving Cert and the actual results being released. Throughout the school year they offer a wide range of professional counselling services to students. It is a service that represents exceptional value for money and supports students who might otherwise have to wait for up to two years before being seen by outside Agencies.
“The 2011 Budget removed the ex-quota Guidance counselling allocation to schools, meaningin reality that the service has been greatly reduced andcurtailed. The cuts in Counsellors came at a time of rising rates of suicide and increasing mental health problems in young people who statistic show benefi greatly t from this one to one support.
“In addition to Paastoral guidance, School Counsellors also give essential advice on a wide range of career options, allowing many students to make more informed choices about their future career paths.
.Many Irish Educators feel that without appropriate guidance and information ,the numbers of students making wrong choices and dropping out of College will increase, at a huge cost to the individual and to the states education system.
“This week when the results of the Leaving Cert are being released its important acknowledge the role of School Guidance Counsellors iand their essential role in providing students with help, support and encoragement.”