Apply to DIFE and you won’t be disappointed

Dear Sir,

It’s almost showtime for 2nd level students. The big day dawns, the curtain comes down on the final exam and while minds may be focused on long, hot summer days and ooh those summer nights, as the song goes please allow me to stick my oar in and throw in a piece of unasked yet surprisingly from me good advice.

Last week, the DI carried an advertisement from our own Drogheda Institute of Further Education. inviting students and mature to apply for interviews for places on their many courses.

Not only do I recommend that students apply to attend DIFE I feel that it should be compulsory for every person intending to go on to third level education to do a year in DIFE. Unfortunately a lack of investment by the Government in education makes this. at the moment, impossible.

University is obviously not a Secondary or VEC school. University is Big School.

There are no teachers cajoling, threatening, checking homework etc.. In Big School you attend lectures, research and turn in assignments. You may never apart from lectures have any direct contact with the lecturer.

There is a methodology to completing assignments, there is self discipline to be learned.

Many students who attend Big School drop out in the first six months, more after a year. Some drop out because the student realises that the subject is not what they really want. Others because of pressure.

My advice to all is to apply to DIFE, regardless of the number of points you have.

Learn in a more relaxed atmosphere with committed educators who have a student centered ethos before continuing on. The Distinctions earned there will help with courses in University.

I am of course a tad bias as I attended DIFE as a mature student. I was older than the lecturers and I was not the oldest student. Neither was I the oldest student in my subject at College. So age is not a barrier to education. If this dumb-ass, according to my wife, can do it anyone can.

Yours Gerry Floyd