Vol. 344 No. 9
asked the Minister for Education if she will confirm that students seeking a VEC grant will require two honours, despite the fact that most of the courses in this sector require only five passes for entry; if she is aware that this will entail untold hardship for students with the result that many will have to opt out; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
97.
asked the Minister for Education if she will make a statement on the proposal to make it mandatory for VEC scholarship applicants to have attained two honours in the leaving certificate.
98.
asked the Minister for Education if she is aware that the decision to require applicants for vocational education and regional technical colleges to have two honours will further restrict access to third level education; if she will review her decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions 96, 97 and 98 together.
I am satisfied that the specification of a requirement of a minimum of grade C in two subjects in higher or common level papers at the leaving certificate examination is appropriate for the award of scholarships by Vocational Education Committees, having regard to the standard of the relevant courses and of the qualifications to be awarded to successful students. In this connection I would draw attention to the pilot study by the NCEA of wastage rates in full-time national certificate courses.
The requirement of two Cs does not apply for the purpose of eligibility for the award of grants from the European Social Fund.
99.
asked the Minister for Education the percentage of students holding VEC scholarships who entered Athlone regional technical college, County Westmeath, in the autumn of 1982 who would not comply with a two honours requirement.
I am informed that 70 per cent of the students admitted to Athlone regional technical college in 1982 who were awarded VEC scholarships did not secure grade C or higher standard in two or more higher or common level papers at the leaving certificate examination.
