Gay Mitchell
Question:36 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the efforts, if any, being made by his Department to promote the status of applied leaving certificate with employers. [25234/99]
Written Answers. - Leaving Certificate Applied.
In May 1997 to coincide with the first examination in the leaving certificate applied, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment launched a promotional campaign in support of the new programme and its graduates. The promotional campaign, which is ongoing includes: an ongoing media campaign which includes exposure on television, national and local radio, and national and regional newspapers particularly in August when the results of the leaving certificate applied examinations are released; production and dissemination of promotional literature; an annual awards ceremony at which I have presented leaving certificate applied students selected from each school with their leaving certificates.
Since the programme's introduction my Department has fully supported and promoted the leaving certificate applied programme. It has at every opportunity, promoted this innovative and exciting programme among employers in particular, fully recognising that one of the main aims of the programme is to comprehensively prepare students for the world of work. The NCCA liaises directly with bodies such as FÁS, IBEC and the Civil Service Commission as well as with individual employers to build up awareness, recognition and acceptance of the LCA. The aim is to establish the incorporation of the programme into selection and entry criteria for a broad range of employment positions.
My Department has also established equivalence for the programme with the established leaving certificate, a factor that allows employers to understand the programme's, "currency" in relation to their own recruitment requirements.
Among those employers who have agreed to accept the LCA for entry level are An Garda Siochána, local authorities, health boards and hospitals, the Civil Service Commission, major banks and a range of others businesses. I am confident that as those employers have come to recognise the skills and qualities achieved through the LCA programme, other employers will wish to share in the benefits of employing LCA graduates. A destination study carried out by the NCCA found that 91 per cent of the graduates of the programme in 1998 proceeded to employment or farther education. The NCCA has also recently published a bulletin to update information on employment training and progression opportunities for holders of the leaving certificate applied.
Schools offering the programme with the assistance of the national support services in Dublin and Shannon are active in promoting awareness of the programme among local employers. The inclusion of a considerable element of work preparation and work experience in the curriculum for the leaving certificate applied makes such promotion at local level both necessary and relevant.