Numbers taking applied course rise along with standards

The standard and numbers of students taking the Leaving Certificate Applied (LCA) have increased this year, according to figures from the State Examinations Commission.

While the LCA cannot be used towards CAO college entry or offer the chance to sit traditional Leaving Cert exams, it keeps thousands of people in school who might otherwise leave the education system.

LCA students receive a single award based on their two years of accumulated credits. The award is given at three levels: Distinction is 85% to 100%, merit is 70% to 84%, and pass is 60% to 69%.

This year, 3,226 students sat their final LCA examinations, an increase of 31 students on last year.

The number of students getting distinction and merits also increased, with 667, or 2% more than 2011, securing the grade this year and 51% of students gaining merits, also up on last year.

Pass and record grades were down on all previous years, showing more students are getting higher grades.

Last year, the Teachers’ Union of Ireland expressed concern over lower standards and numbers of students taking LCA, saying it coincided with Government cuts. In 2009, cuts were made to funding and staffing allocation made to schools with the LCA programme were also cut.

This year, however, numbers and standards appear to have increased.

Meanwhile, numbers of students taking the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme (LCVP) have decreased.

This year, 567 fewer students participated in LCVP at 15,827 compared to 16,394 in 2011, although the standards of grades appears to have gone up.

About 12% got a distinction this year and 51% a merit, both the highest they have been since 2009.

Numbers of passes were also down, and the numbers of those who were unsuccessful were down to 1,183 or 7% of students, the lowest it has been since 2008.

LCVP is a two-year academic programme that promotes self-directed learning, combining traditional subjects with a practical link modules programme.

This includes compulsory work experience, a portfolio of work over the two years, and a written exam in May.

Unlike the LCA, students can count the points from their link modules as one of their six Leaving Cert subjects for college application.

The CAO awards 70 points for a LCVP links modules distinction, 50 points for a merit and 30 points for a pass.

Caroline McHale, the national co-ordinator of the LCVP, said it is predominantly enterprise and preparation for work.

“It is very much skills-based and there is a lot of portfolio work, and students are increasingly using it as one of their six top subjects towards CAO points,” she said.

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