Leaving Cert business: Delighted students may have succumbed to Stockholm Syndrome

The universally positive response to this year’s Leaving Cert business paper, which is one of the most overloaded and theoretical subjects, suggests students may be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome.

"The size of the syllabus, and the amount of heavily theoretical material that needs to be covered in two years, is too much," said Denise Staunton, TUI subject representative and a business teacher at Roscommon Community College. "That said, the higher level paper was very fair, and well-prepared students will have done well."

Students were required to answer eight out of 10 short questions, which Staunton said were “very nice. The students were happy with them and they were able to tackle them.”

Staunton said both the higher and ordinary level papers lacked an emphasis on numerical skills. “Students who like numerically-based questions, and who rely on them for grades, might have been a little disappointed. To avoid predictability, the balance between numeracy and literacy on the paper varies from year to year, but numeracy is a key skill for business, and I feel it should have more of a presence on the paper.”

An applied business question required students to read about a shoe manufacturer who had reoriented his business to focus on the growing market for Irish dancing. “This was a topical question and required the students to think critically. It shows that, as well as the theoretical elements, Leaving Cert business requires and trains students to be critical thinkers who can evaluate information and apply it to the business world.”

Indigenous enterprise featured heavily on the paper alongside questions on the role of multinational firms in the Irish economy, said Staunton. “If students were keeping up to date with the business section of the newspaper, they will have done well,” she said.

Business teacher Arthur Russell of the Institute of Education said there was "a great choice for students on the higher level paper, and the questions were fair and well-balanced."

Staunton said the ordinary level paper was very fair, but said there is an ongoing over-emphasis on theory at both levels, and this needs to be addressed.

TRY THIS AT HOME: Higher level business

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