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A young Killybegs woman who did a Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) course in Sports, Recreation and Exercise says it’s the perfect stepping stone between secondary and third level.
Niamh Maguire is an Irish dancer who plans to become a PE teacher.
She found her learning rhythm by doing a PLC in 2023 with Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB) and is now in her first year of a Level 8 Sport and Exercise degree at ATU Donegal.
When Niamh did her Leaving Certificate at St Catherine’s Vocational School in Killybegs, she knew she wasn’t ready for college just yet.
She took a year out to work. Approaching her second year out of education made her think about her routes to following her passion for a career in sport.
“I really enjoyed doing PE as a Leaving Cert subject, it was one of my favourite subjects,” Niamh said. “So, with having an interest in sport and Irish dancing, I decided to carry it on to PLC and third level.”
PLC courses, like the one Niamh undertook at Finn Valley College in Stranorlar, are intensive, one-year Level 5 qualifications, provided by Donegal ETB’s Further Education and Training (FET) Service. They are designed as the ideal progression from Leaving Certificate for students who want an extra year to study a specific vocational area and for adults returning to education.
The Sports, Recreation and Exercise PLC at Finn Valley College proved to be the perfect fit for Niamh. It combined hands-on modules in various sports like basketball, soccer, and Gaelic along with theory in nutrition and essential skills in communications, and word processing.
“I really enjoyed the coaching modules,” Niamh said. “That was hands-on, doing sessions with the teacher, training in coaching people and groups. It was more active and physical than sitting in a classroom, which I didn’t mind either. The academic writing prepares you for going on to third level.”
“It is a great course, all the teachers in the school are great and helpful and it’s a really lovely experience.”
For her work experience module, she returned to her former secondary school in Killybegs to shadow a PE teacher, which she also enjoyed.
PLC courses are offered in five locations in Buncrana (FET Centre, Shore Road) Stranorlar (Finn Valley College) and Letterkenny (Errigal College, FET Centre Business Park Road and FET Centre Port Road). They follow a more college-themed learning style with a mix of practical work, academic work and work experience.
“It’s not as strict as school, it’s very relaxed,” Niamh said. “You have more freedom to work for yourself instead of working for your teachers.”
The course structure is intended to prepare students for the independent learning expected at third level.
Successful students may apply to third level programmes at universities through the Higher Education Links Scheme.
Once Niamh began her first year at ATU, she could see that the preparation work paid off.
“Doing the PLC definitely helped that transition from schoolwork to college work.
“I felt more comfortable with being given assignments to do in your own time, instead of having homework to do every evening. It gives you more academic freedom.
“For me, I wasn’t sure if I was ready for third level, this was a trial run for me, it’s not college, it’s not school, it’s in between. It really helped the transition, and if anyone asks me ‘should I do it?’, I would recommend it. If you are not ready or unsure, it’s definitely a great stepping stone between secondary and third level.”
Interested in learning more about PLC courses?
Donegal ETB has twelve PLC courses available this September in five locations in Buncrana (FET Centre Shore Road), Letterkenny (Errigal College, FET Centre Business Park Road and FET Centre Port Road) and Stranorlar (Finn Valley College). You can apply online through the links below.
Buncrana
- Early Learning and Care: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=461159
- E-Business: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=461165
Letterkenny
- Animal Care: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=461184
- Art, Craft and Design: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=461181
- Business Studies: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=461193
- Construction Technology: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=461235
- Early Learning and Care: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=461263
- Health Service Skills: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=461170
- Inclusive Education and Training: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=461238
Stranorlar
- Business Administration: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=460663
- Early Learning and Care:https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=460662
- Sports, Recreation and Exercise: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=460659
Céim mhuiníneach isteach sa choláiste i ndiaidh PLC á glacadh ag damhsóir Gaelach
Deir bean óg as na Cealla Beaga a rinne cúrsa Iar-Ardteistiméireachta (PLC) i Spóirt, Fóillíocht agus Aclaíocht nach bhfuil á shárú ann mar chéim ar an aistear idir an meánscoil agus an coláiste.
Is damhsóir Gaelach í Niamh Maguire a bhfuil sé beartaithe aici a bheith ina múinteoir corpoideachais.
D’aimsigh sí a cuid rithime foghlama féin trí PLC a dhéanamh in 2023 le Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Dhún na nGall (ETB), agus tá sí anois ina céad bhliain de chéim Leibhéal 8 Spóirt agus Aclaíochta in ATU Dhún na nGall.
Nuair a rinne Niamh an Ardteistiméireacht i nGairmscoil Naomh Caitríona sna Cealla Beaga, bhí a fhios aici nach raibh sí réidh don choláiste go fóill.
Thóg sí bliain amach le dul i mbun oibre. Agus í ag druidim lena dara bliain as an oideachas, thosaigh sí ag smaoineamh ar na bealaí a bhí aici chun a mian de ghairm bheatha sa spórt a leanstan.
“Bhain mé oiread taitnimh as Corpoideachas mar ábhar Ardteistiméireachta, bhí sé ar cheann de na hábhair ab fhearr liom,” a dúirt Niamh. “Mar sin de, agus suim agam sa spórt agus sa damhsa Gaelach, shocraigh mé leanstan ar aghaidh leis mar chúrsa PLC agus ag an tríú leibhéal.”
Is diancháilíochtaí bliana Leibhéal 5 iad cúrsaí PLC, cosúil leis an cheann a rinne Niamh i gColáiste Ghleann na Finne i Srath an Urláir, a chuireann Seirbhís Breisoideachais agus Oiliúna (FET) Bhord Oideachais agus Oiliúna Dhún na nGall ar fáil. Dearadh iad mar an dul chun cinn is fearr ón Ardteistiméireacht do dhaltaí atá ag iarraidh bliain bhreise chun staidéar a dhéanamh ar shainréimse gairme agus do dhaoine fásta atá ag filleadh ar an oideachas.
D’oir an PLC Spóirt, Fóillíochta agus Aclaíochta Choláiste Ghleann na Finne go maith do Niamh. Bhí meascán ann de mhodúil phraiticiúla i spóirt éagsúla amhail cispheil, sacar, agus peil Ghaelach, in éineacht le teoiric i gcothú agus scileanna riachtanacha i gcumarsáid agus próiseáil focal.
“Bhain mé oiread taitnimh as na modúil oiliúna,” a dúirt Niamh. “Taithí phraiticiúil a bhí ann, seisiúin a dhéanamh leis an mhúinteoir, oiliúint a fháil maidir le daoine agus grúpaí a chóitseáil. Bhí sé níos gníomhaí agus níos fisiciúla ná a bheith i do shuí i seomra ranga, rud nár chuir isteach go ró-mhór orm ach an oiread. Ullmhaíonn an scríbhneoireacht acadúil thú le dul ar aghaidh chuig an tríú leibhéal.”
“Cúrsa iontach atá ann, tá na múinteoirí ar fad sa scoil iontach agus cuidiúil, agus is eispéireas álainn é.”
Lena modúil taithí oibre, d’fhill sí ar a hiar-mheánscoil sna Cealla Beaga chun múinteoir corpoideachais a leanstan, rud a bhain sí taitneamh as fosta.
Cuirtear cúrsaí PLC ar fáil i gcúig ionad i mBun Cranncha (Ionad FET, Bóthar an Chladaigh), Srath an Urláir (Coláiste Ghleann na Finne) agus Leitir Ceanainn (Coláiste an Eargail, Ionad FET Bhóthar na Páirce Gnó agus Ionad FET Bóthar an Phoirt). Leantar stíl foghlama iontu atá níos cosúla leis an choláiste agus lena mbaineann meascán d’obair phraiticiúil, obair acadúil agus taithí oibre.
“Níl sé chomh dian leis an scoil, tá sé iontach réchúiseach,” a dúirt Niamh. “Tá níos mó saoirse agat oibriú ar do shon féin in ionad oibriú ar son do mhúinteoirí.”
Tá struchtúr an chúrsa dírithe ar mhic léinn a ullmhú don fhoghlaim neamhspleách a bhfuiltear ag súil léi ag an tríú leibhéal.
Féadfaidh mic léinn rathúla iarratas a dhéanamh ar chláir tríú leibhéal in ollscoileanna tríd an Scéim Nasc don Ardoideachas.
Nuair a thosaigh Niamh ar a céad bhliain in ATU, bhain sí tairbhe as an réamhobair.
“Is cinnte gur chuidigh an PLC leis an aistriú ó obair scoile go hobair an choláiste.
“Mhothaigh mé níos compordaí le tascanna a fháil le déanamh i do chuid ama féin, in ionad obair bhaile a bheith le déanamh gach tráthnóna. Tugann sé níos mó saoirse acadúil duit.
“Domhsa, ní raibh mé cinnte cé acu an raibh mé réidh don tríú leibhéal, triail a bhí ansin domhsa, ní coláiste é, ní scoil é, tá sé idir eatarthu. Chuidigh sé go mór leis an aistriú, agus má fhiafraíonn aon duine díom ‘ar cheart domh é a dhéanamh?’, mholfainn é. Mura bhfuil tú réidh nó cinnte, is cinnte gur céim iontach é ar an aistear idir an dara leibhéal agus an tríú leibhéal.”
An bhfuil suim agat níos mó a fhoghlaim faoi chúrsaí PLC?
Tá ETB Dhún na nGall ag cur 12 chúrsa PLC ar fáil i mí Mheán Fómhair na bliana seo i gcúig ionad i mBun Cranncha (Ionad FET, Bóthar an Chladaigh), Leitir Ceanainn (Coláiste an Eargail, Ionad FET Bhóthar na Páirce Gnó agus Ionad FET Bóthar an Phoirt) agus Srath an Urláir (Coláiste Ghleann na Finne). Is féidir leat iarratas a dhéanamh ar líne trí na naisc thíos.
Bun Cranncha
- Foghlaim agus Cúram na Luath-Óige: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=461159
- R-Ghnó: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=461165
Leitir Ceanainn
- Cúram Ainmhithe: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=461184
- Ealaín, Ceardaíocht agus Dearadh: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=461181
- Staidéar Gnó: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=461193
- Teicneolaíocht Foirgníochta: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=461235
- Foghlaim agus Cúram na Luath-Óige: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=461263
- Scileanna Seirbhíse Sláinte: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=461170
- Oideachas agus Oiliúint Ionchuimsitheach: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=461238
Srath an Urláir
- Riarachán Gnó: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=460663
- Foghlaim agus Cúram na Luath-Óige: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=460662
- Spóirt, Fóillíocht agus Aclaíocht: https://www.donegaletb.ie/course-detail/?CourseId=460659