Can't go back to non-fee paying school, what to do?

Dannysaurus

Ohai.

I'm a Singaporean national and I've been in Ireland since 1st year, and right now, I'm in 6th year (technically).

Recently (around September-ish) my mom lost her job, which in effect, doesn't entitle me to go to a non fee-paying school anymore (according to an immigration officer in Bandon). I've been out of school since... November? Since then, we've returned to Singapore. In the same breath, I would really like to be able to complete my Leaving Cert, and my parents are up for funding me going back to Ireland on my own.

Would there be any provisions that might allow me to return to that same school and actually finish it there? Having been in Ireland since 1st year, it's quite a waste to actually have everything end so suddenly with a rather short time frame left.
Otherwise, what other options do I have? Would there be secondary schools in Dublin be able to take in a student for such a short time frame? And how about fees? Would I have to pay for an entire year's worth just for 3 months?

On the legality front, with me being 19 this 24th, would a guardian of some sort still be needed when attending a secondary school?

ABajaninCork

Have you had a word with Immigration here? Sorry, I'm not Irish and am unclear which department would actually deal.

Either that or the school you went to might be able to point you in the right direction.

psychward

If you end up paying anyway then maybe you have more options than going back to the same school ?

http://www.ioe.ie/


The Institute of education linked above is one of several places which has a full time Leaving Cert Course. Getting a student visa for a full time course shouldn't be a problem. Brazilians get them all the time for part time English classes.

Dannysaurus

I have, and they've only been bouncing me around to different departments.

Apparently there's a provision for students that have been in the system before 2010/11 school year, they'd allow them to stay till July 2012, which, unfortunately I've only found out recently.
I asked an officer on the GNIB line about it, and she just said that she doesn't know, and that I won't be allowed to be in a non-fee paying school.
From there I've called the department of education, and people from educationireland without much of a result apart from the road towards fee paying schools.

Dannysaurus

psychward wrote: »

If you end up paying anyway then maybe you have more options than going back to the same school ?

http://www.ioe.ie/


The Institute of education linked above is one of several places which has a full time Leaving Cert Course. Getting a student visa for a full time course shouldn't be a problem. Brazilians get them all the time for part time English classes.

That's actually a school being considered at the moment. But would they actually take in students at this point in time? And almost 7 grand isn't something I'd be able to furnish 6 grand, on top of the needed proof to show that I have another 3 grand readily accesible. Now that on top plane tickets and accomodation, I won't be able to

psychward

Dannysaurus wrote: »

That's actually a school being considered at the moment. But would they actually take in students at this point in time? And almost 7 grand isn't something I'd be able to furnish 6 grand, on top of the needed proof to show that I have another 3 grand readily accesible. Now that on top plane tickets and accomodation, I won't be able to

At the other end of the scale , apparently you can do the Leaving Certificate as a correspondence course with this crowd : http://www.kilroyscollege.ie (click for your location ''world'' on the top right of the screen)

They appear to have been around for a few years. It's got to be cheaper ???

Dannysaurus

I've checked and called xD

A correspondence course costs a good couple hundred euro per subject, and to sit the exam itself, I'll still have to be in Ireland to do so, which would incur a further 300-ish euro without factoring in travel and accomodation costs, and I'm gonna have to do that twice since I've my French orals this April xD

Would there be any relevant authorities to contact to get some sort of definite answer regarding this? xD

psychward

Dannysaurus wrote: »

Would there be any relevant authorities to contact to get some sort of definite answer regarding this? xD

What was the question ?

golden virginia

Dannysaurus wrote: »

Ohai.

I'm a Singaporean national and I've been in Ireland since 1st year, and right now, I'm in 6th year (technically).

Recently (around September-ish) my mom lost her job, which in effect, doesn't entitle me to go to a non fee-paying school anymore (according to an immigration officer in Bandon). I've been out of school since... November? Since then, we've returned to Singapore. In the same breath, I would really like to be able to complete my Leaving Cert, and my parents are up for funding me going back to Ireland on my own.

Would there be any provisions that might allow me to return to that same school and actually finish it there? Having been in Ireland since 1st year, it's quite a waste to actually have everything end so suddenly with a rather short time frame left.
Otherwise, what other options do I have? Would there be secondary schools in Dublin be able to take in a student for such a short time frame? And how about fees? Would I have to pay for an entire year's worth just for 3 months?

On the legality front, with me being 19 this 24th, would a guardian of some sort still be needed when attending a secondary school?

I find it hard to understand exactly what the problem is -

Were you attending a state funded school - non fee paying in September? If So then you are registered with this school. The school is receiving state funding for you, as you are registered with them.

There should be no problem therefore for you returning to this school.

Dannysaurus

psychward wrote: »

What was the question ?

Uhmm, it's more along the lines of
- Would there be ANY allowances for me to be able to attend that school since it's my last year, and only a couple of months left?
- Who would I go to for concrete information on the matter, instead of getting passed on through different authorities and then ending up going 'round in circles?
- Private schools, would there be ones that would still take students at this time of year? And would I have to pay the fee of an entire year?

Anywho, yeah, that :L

ResearchWill

golden virginia wrote: »

I find it hard to understand exactly what the problem is -

Were you attending a state funded school - non fee paying in September? If So then you are registered with this school. The school is receiving state funding for you, as you are registered with them.

There should be no problem therefore for you returning to this school.

I think the issue is that on a stamp 2 student visa you are not allowed to attend a non fee paying school.

To the OP what stamp did you have when you lived here, was it 2 or 3. What stamp had your mother I assume stamp 1 with work permit. It is a pity you did not deal with this matter before you left as you may have been entitled to LTR. You really need to speak to a good immigration solicitor on this matter.

Dannysaurus

ResearchWill wrote: »

I think the issue is that on a stamp 2 student visa you are not allowed to attend a non fee paying school.

To the OP what stamp did you have when you lived here, was it 2 or 3. What stamp had your mother I assume stamp 1 with work permit. It is a pity you did not deal with this matter before you left as you may have been entitled to LTR. You really need to speak to a good immigration solicitor on this matter.

^ The problem there xD
To be perfectly honest, I'm not too sure. I was a dependant on my mom, who is of a Phillipine nationality. There wasn't a definite stamp, though I am on the train home at the moment, so I'll check my passport then.
In hindsight, that could perhaps be my fault since I've only registered with the Gards once, which was when I came to Ireland for the first time. I didn't really know about the yearly renewal. Though, I was really young then and didn't know better. And not trying to blame le parentals, but whenever I asked them about it, they told me to let them worry about it instead, therefore it never really came to mind until **** hit the fan xD

What would an LTR be? It really is indeed a pity as we left pretty soon after we weren't really getting anywhere after being told that information, and private school, at the time, was just too expensive to go through with. And with being in Clonakilty, the nearest private school was in Bandon so transportation was another problem.
Regarding an immigration solicitor, how would I find one in Singapore? And the costs of one?
Actually, no, I'm more concerned about the time it would take, since I'm already pretty behind in school work, as my only resources are Google and exam papers online :L And by the looks of it, if I do get to return to that school, I'd most likely have to drop down to pass in a few subjects :<

golden virginia

I did not know there were such restrictions on studying in Ireland.

The Cork College of Commerce offers a one year Leaving Certificate. The fee is smaller that most fee paying schools. The schools website is here and it gives info for international students. it seems that the Department of Education charges non EU students a fee of Euro 3,653 to sit the Leaving Cert.

Dannysaurus

ResearchWill wrote: »

I think the issue is that on a stamp 2 student visa you are not allowed to attend a non fee paying school.

To the OP what stamp did you have when you lived here, was it 2 or 3. What stamp had your mother I assume stamp 1 with work permit. It is a pity you did not deal with this matter before you left as you may have been entitled to LTR. You really need to speak to a good immigration solicitor on this matter.

I can't tell, a water damaged passport has the most recent ink faded, the only thing that remains is the note the officer wrote saying "Meeting mother at airport"

golden virginia wrote: »

I did not know there were such restrictions on studying in Ireland.

The Cork College of Commerce offers a one year Leaving Certificate. The fee is smaller that most fee paying schools. The schools website is here and it gives info for international students. it seems that the Department of Education charges non EU students a fee of Euro 3,653 to sit the Leaving Cert.

Ouch :< Looks like I'm screwed :L