Student Experiences of the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme

92 ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE?Table 6.1: Work Placements Undertaken by Males and FemalesMalePlastererCarpentry: fitting kitchensBricklayingPainterTilerRoofingArchitectSupermarketAccounts OfficeGarageFactoryElectricianBookshopWarehouse: DriverFarmMechanics GarageHardware StoreCreameryFemaleBeauticianHairdresserReceptionistCar OfficeCrècheNursing HomeMS Care CentreSolicitor’s OfficeAccountant’s OfficeLaboratoryNational Taxi Drivers UnionPrimary School: Teachers’ AssistantSpecial Needs AssistantPharmacyHealth StoreNail SalonPubKitchen/CateringGardaiInsurance BrokersPhotographerTravel AgencyWhile all of our interviewees had participated in an LCA workexperience placement(s), Donal indicated that some of his friends in LCAdid not do so because of a lack of financial reward: they were not gettingpaid for it:People who wouldn’t have went to do work experience because they wouldn’t getpaid anyway, you know, some people want money and that’d be it, even though itcould have been something you wanted to do, down the road you know, it couldhave been. (Donal, 23, dropped out of LCA, apprentice)There was also variation across placements, with some employers payingthe students for their placement while the majority did not get paid.Andrew was given about €30 a week for his work experience which he feltwas a lot of money when he was only sixteen:Sure you were getting a few quid. I was never really working as a child I used toget pocket money when I needed money off me dad but when I went doing thatwith your man he used to give me I think it was €30, that’s good for a days workwhen you’re only sixteen so I was delighted with myself, used to love going up anddoing it, so. (Andrew, 21, completed LCA, apprentice)