The National Learning Network says it's seeing a sharp increase of referrals of students in Cork refusing to return to education because of mental health issues.
Beau Aherne who did his Leaving Cert during the pandemic dropped out of his college course and is now a student of the National Learning Network in Hollyhill.
Speaking to RedFM News, Beau says the anxiety around socialising again forced him to quit college:
"COVID was terrible but also the aftermath of COVID, and like the lack of socialisation and the anxiety that kind of came with that. I know even up here we have a lot of people who are kind of around 16-17, who are early school leavers. It seems to be a really like a common phenomenon that took place because of COVID and directly after".
