Drop in standards at applied level ‘a result of cutbacks’

TEACHERS claim a drop in standards and numbers taking the Leaving Certificate Applied is a direct consequence of cutbacks in schools.

The Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) does not offer the opportunity to sit the traditional Leaving Certificate exams and cannot be used towards CAO college entry. But it is a key factor in keeping thousands of young people at school who might otherwise leave the education system.

They build credits over the two years of senior cycle, as well as final written exams in June, to determine their grades. A distinction is awarded for 85% to 100% of total credits, a merit for 70% to 84% and a pass for 60% to 69%.

An increased staffing allocation given to schools offering LCA was reduced in line with cuts at all schools in September 2009, the year this summer’s school leavers began senior cycle. The previous Government also withdrew additional funding to help run the Leaving Certificate Applied and a range of other programmes in the same year.

Almost 3,200 students completed the LCA in June, 5% less than last year and the numbers getting a distinction or merit award fell from 72% to 67% since last year. In addition, the proportion merely getting a record of credits, which is below the pass mark, rose from 13.4% last year to 17.4%.

Teachers’ Union of Ireland president Bernie Ruane said it is no coincidence that resources for such students were attacked during the two-year programme.

“The attack on the pupil-teacher ratio and grants for this programme represented a new low in terms of targeting the most vulnerable in our education system, and the results illustrate the real effects of education cutbacks.”

But the Department of Education said cuts in grants and staffing applied equally to the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP). It said student numbers on this course have increased 5% this year and there was no drop in attainment.

However, while the numbers achieving distinction and merits in the LCVP are up 7.2% and 4.3% respectively, 7.8% more participants than last year were unsuccessful.

The 16,386 who took the LCVP this year marks a 16% rise from just over 14,000 in 2007 and is almost 400 more than last year.

The LCVP promotes self-directed learning and combines formal academic subjects with a practical Links Modules programme consisting of a written exam in May and a portfolio of work prepared over two years. There is also a compulsory work experience element.

Students can count points from their Links Modules marks as one of their six subjects for college application, with 70 CAO points available for a distinction, 50 points for a merit and 30 for a pass.

Caroline McHale, LCVP national coordinator, said 10 additional schools are offering it this year, meaning it is available at around 530 of the country’s 730 second level schools.

“It’s very important for many students, as more than 80% of those who do the LCVP use their award as the sixth subject for their CAO application.”

However, from next month, schools offering LCVP will no longer be allowed additional staffing over other schools, unless they also have an LCA programme.