Helpline to help Leaving Cert students

Exam Helpline 1800 265 165: Wednesday August 14 8am-7pm; Thursday August 15 8am to 7pm; Friday August 16 8am to 1pm; Monday August 19 8am-7pm; Tuesday August 20 8am-7pm; Wednesday August 21 8am-1pm.

The National Parents Council Post Primary (NPCpp) has launched Exam Helpline 2013 which will offer advice, information and support to Leaving Certificate students receiving their exam results this week.

The helpline is open from 8am on results day, tomorrow Wednesday August 14, to take calls from students, parents and teachers looking for advice and information on what choices are available to students.

The helpline is sponsored by eircom and the Irish Independent, supported by the Department of Education and Skills and staffed by members of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. The helpline received some 4,000 calls last year, helping students make decisions about the choices they face and their career paths.

Those seeking advice, information or reassurance can contact the helpline on 1800 265 165 which will be manned by experienced guidance counsellors. All queries on third level courses, the points system, rechecks, repeats, CAO procedures, apprenticeships and further training options will be dealt with in professional and confidential manner.

Jackie O’Callaghan, helpline co-ordinator, said: “The National Parents Council post primary is very pleased to once again provide the Leaving Certificate Helpline 2013. The Helpline has in the past been a great source of accurate and up to date information and is one of the many important services we at NPCpp provide”, she said.

The Helpline is staffed by members of the Institute of guidance counsellors who are fully qualified in their field. In recent years calls to the helpline have increased which shows the need for the personal touch at the end of a phone line at a very stressful time for students and their parents.