Student Experiences of the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme

142 ENGAGING YOUNG PEOPLE?In the summer … I got my apprenticeship, I’d take it, so that was it then andthere, he [employer] signed me up with FÁS and the whole lot then, so once Isigned up I knew it was legit then, you know, most people don’t sign you up.(Donal, 23, dropped out of LCA, apprentice)He also enjoyed his time in FÁS and felt more able to study havingworked for a period beforehand:I found that when I went out working first … I wouldn’t have been too keen ongoing straight to college, but the way I was sort of broken into it, the few monthsworking before that, I felt comfortable, I wouldn’t have been too comfortableworking before that and then I was sent away to Dublin twice. (Donal, 23,dropped out of LCA, apprentice)He felt that he was more engaged with his work because he had aninterest in it:Did you find any similarities between school and FÁS?[No] Because we were more interested in what we were doing [in theapprenticeship] you see.Okay.And you had to get it right otherwise, that was it.And how did they assess you in FÁS, how, was there exams?You’d different tests, you had practical, theory test, three practical and three theoryand inside then outside, you had to do all in the little cubicle, you know…abouttwenty lads, twenty lads with a little cubicle each and we plastered in thatMonday to Thursday, and half day on a Friday and we were in the class for thehalf day on the Friday, just learning about different types of, it was grand,everyone liked it and everyone went there to do work there. (Donal, 23,dropped out of LCA, apprentice)Two of the respondents had intended to do apprenticeships but foundthat their employers had not sent the necessary papers through to FÁS intime. Both have been working in trades since they completed the LCA.Garry left school in fifth year to start an apprenticeship but his employerdid not send his papers through to FÁS. He felt that it was too late to startagain and decided to take a new job with a higher salary:And did you start an apprenticeship then?No, I was supposed to but it ended up then, I got a job and he said he’d give methe apprenticeship and I was working away there for him for about a year, Ithought he was after putting me through but he never put me through to the thing[registered apprenticeship].To FÁS?Yeah, so I was working with him and then I went off to another fella and I saidI’ll wait then because I was on, I was getting better money off your man, I said Iwon’t do an apprenticeship now, I’m going to wait a couple of months, I wasgetting really good money, I ended up waiting and I was on good money then and Ididn’t really want to go back … I was out of work then until about four or fivemonths ago then. (Garry, 22, dropped out of LCA, employed)Derek continued working for his employer from his LCA workexperience when he finished school. However, it was only after a year and a