Simon Coveney
Question:29 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will report on the uptake of the applied leaving certificate programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5205/04]
View answerThursday, 19 February 2004
Questions (32)
Written answers
The leaving certificate applied, LCA, is one of the options of the senior cycle structure. The programme has been introduced on a phased basis since 1995, when it was initially offered to 1,200 students in 50 schools and centres. There are currently more than 8,000 students studying under the programme in more than 300 schools and centres.
An intensive support service to assist with the introduction of this innovative and distinct programme into the Irish second-level education system was put in place in 1995. This service, dedicated solely to the LCA programme, was continued for a significant number of years, up to the end of the last school year. The LCA programme is, at this stage, well established in the Irish education system.
Since the beginning of the present school year in-service training and support for the LCA programme has been provided by the broader second level support service. This service provides inservice and support for a number of second level programmes as well as the LCA. For well established programmes this arrangement enables best use to be made of the expertise that has been developed and built up over a number of years and can be shared and utilised in a number of different but related areas.
Officials of my Department have met recently the director of the second level support service for a further review of the new arrangements for inservice training for the programme. The matter is being kept under review on an ongoing basis.
Question No. 30 answered with QuestionNo. 25.