LCA Newsletter 1 Nov 1999.pdf - PDST

Employment Opportunities
The Leaving Certificate Applied is
recognised by a wide range of employers.
The following is a sample of policy
statements from some of the larger
companies.
Local Authorities - The Department of
the Environment has advised all City and
County Managers and Directors of Regional
Authorities that ‘Pass in the Leaving
Certificate Applied meets the requirement
of a Pass in five subjects in Established
Leaving Certificate’.This in effect means that
holders of Leaving Certificate Applied will
now be eligible to apply for Clerical Officer
positions with Local Authorities nationwide.
Health Boards - Following on the above,
all Health Boards, Hospitals and Mental
Handicap Agencies were notified by the
Department of
Health and
Children in June
1999 that Pass
Leaving
Certificate
Applied qualifies
applicants for
posts for which Pass in Established Leaving
Certificate has been required.
Civil Service - The Civil Service requires
‘good general education’ in Clerical Officer
applicants.The Civil Service Commission
considers Leaving Certificate Applied meets
this requirement.
Intel - “Intel very
much welcomes
applications from
graduates of
Leaving Certificate
Applied for
operative and
junior technician positions. Progression
through the company is assisted through inhouse
training and education programmes.
Many Intel technicians have progressed
rapidly from junior ranks.” Evelyn Pender,
Human Resources Division, Intel.
Banks - Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank
accept applications from those with
Distinction in Leaving Certificate Applied.
National Irish Bank accepts Merit or
Distinction. Discussions are underway with
AIB.
Hewlett Packard - will be pleased to
accept applications for ‘process operators’
positions from students with a pass or
better in Leaving Certificate Applied.
Aer Lingus - confirm that vacancies for
Cabin Crew, Customer Services Agents and
Trainee Pilots are open to
Leaving Certificate Applied
students. Applications for
these grades will be
accepted only following
national press campaigns.
General clerical staff are
recruited through ‘Select’
Recruitment Agency, and holders of Leaving
Certificate Applied with Merit are eligible to
apply.
U.S. visas - The
United States
Embassy accepts
Leaving Certificate
Applied as
equivalent to
Established Leaving
Certificate standard, which is a requirement
for entry to the Green Card lottery.
Garda Siochana -
The Garda Siochana
accept applications
from those holding
Leaving Certificate
Applied Merit or
Distinction.
“
TUI fully supports the Leaving Certificate Applied and its continued
development.The programme represents a revolutionary new
development in Irish education.TUI believes that the traditional Leaving
Certificate has much to learn from Leaving Certificate Applied.
”
Billy Fitzpatrick, Education Officer,Teachers’ Union of Ireland.
Apprenticeships
The Leaving Certificate Applied is an excellent choice for those
interested in training for a trade, as evidenced by the fact that 19% of
last year’s graduates are now in apprenticeships.
FÁS – Brendan McCrea¸ FÁS Manager, Standards-based
Apprenticeship, states "A number of features of the Leaving Certificate
Applied programme are similar to those of the Standards-based
Apprenticeship organised by FÁS, such as the integration of learning,
experience and practical tasks, the modular
structure of the courses and the system of
concurrent assessment.This is why FÁS considers
the Leaving Certificate Applied to be an
eminently suitable preparation for students who
wish to enter apprenticeship" . In fact, FÁS’s
minimum entry requirement for standardsbased
apprenticeship is 25 credits in Leaving
Certificate Applied for those who have not
previously attained 5 D’s in Junior Certificate.
“
As an employer, I am very excited by the Leaving Certificate
Applied.This approach identifies the strengths and talents of each
individual student and builds achievements around them. In a better way
than ever before, it prepares young people for adult and working life.
Senator Fergal Quinn, Managing Director, Superquinn, Dublin.
”
ESB – Paul Hickey, Staff Relations
Manager, writes "I am pleased to
confirm that ESB recognises the
Leaving Certificate Applied as an
acceptable qualification for applying
for ESB apprenticeships".
Greencore in Mallow welcomes applications for its apprenticeships
from Leaving Certificate Applied students from local schools.
Bus Éireann accepts applications for apprenticeships from holders
of Leaving Certificate Applied. Mark Lawne, a graduate from St.
Columba’s College Stranorlar, began work as an apprentice Mechanic
with Bus Éireann in Letterkenny in October 1999.
A more detailed study of the apprenticeship element of the
destination study shows that Leaving Certificate Applied students
entered the labour force as apprentices in many trades – Construction
(carpenters, bricklayers, plasterers, cabinet-makers, etc), Engineering
(fitting, turning, metal fabrication, etc), Electrical Trades and lesser
percentages into Plumbing, Gas trades, Painting and Aeronautics.
Further information on Leaving Certificate Applied can be obtained from: NCCA, 24 Merrion Square, Dublin 2 and from the
Leaving Certificate Applied Support Service, Curriculum Development Unit, Sundrive Road, Dublin 12, or the Curriculum Development Centre, Shannon Co., Clare