THE NEW Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme is being sold by one school principal as a Leaving Certificate Plus. Essentially, students take between five and seven traditional Leaving Cert subjects and three additional short courses or modules.
John Hammond, LCVP co ordinator, says the programme is "aimed right across the board. It is not a programme that is specifically targeted at weaker students, though it would be true to say it's likely to contribute to more of these students having a meaningful experience at senior cycle."
The LCVP was introduced in 68 schools on a pilot basis in September 1994. A further 58 schools introduced it the next year. There are more than 4,000 students taking the LCVP. It is envisaged that, eventually, the programme will be taken by 30 per cent of all senior cycle students.
Teachers' biggest concern is probably recognition for the three link modules. The Department, Hammond says, has had meetings with third level representatives about credits for these modules.
Possibilities include the allocation of points for the link modules or access to specialised facilities and courses or that the LCVP might help in "tie break" situations. Discussions are ongoing. It is unlikely that the first group of students to graduate with the LCVP this summer will obtain any extra credits for third level.
These students will sit the written exams for the link modules on April 22nd. The exams account for 40 per cent of the marks. It is anticipated that the LCVP written exams if written exams are continued will be included in the Leaving Cert exams timetable. Their portfolios, which account for the remaining 60 per cent of marks, will be assessed in the week beginning May 20th.
Candidates will be awarded the same certificate as other Leaving Certificate students and a statement indicating achievement in the link modules, as assessed by the NCVA, will be entered in the results section of the Leaving Cert.
Schools participating in the revised LCVP receive a grant of £17,000 for computer and audio visual equipment and a grant of £1,000 for resources. Schools which had participated in the old LVCP which had no link modules and a single subject combination of construction studies, technical drawing and engineering get a initial grant of £8,000.
This is under negotiation, as the old LVCP started in 1989 and any computer equipment purchased then is likely to be out of date.
The closing date for applications from schools wishing to run the programme in the next school year was January 31st and the Department sees as many as 200 new schools joining this year. Last year, there were between 350 and 400 applications. It is expected that every second level school will offer the programme by the year 2000.
An independent office, funded by the Department of Education and based in Marino Institute of Education in Dublin, has been set up to support the LCVP. In addition to Hammond, the full time co ordinator, staff includes a full time secretary and three part time regionally based development officers.
I think that one of the most successful aspects of the programme so far is the in service. The co ordinators go into the schools and spend some time with the whole staff and then they work with the LCVP team to plan the programme," Hammond says.
Mary Bradshaw, principal of Colaiste Mhuire, Ennis, Co Clare, one of the 58 first phase schools, describes the programme as "really super". She is pleased to have participated in the pilot and praised the Department's support. There are 24 students in fourth year and 27 students in fifth year participating in the LCVP.
These are of mixed ability, and the school guidance counsellor, Niamh O'Regan, says that when it comes to filling out their CAO/CAS form, the girls show clearer thinking. "It's marvellous to see how the girls' self confidence has developed," Bradshaw adds.
The core subjects offered by the school are business organisation and accountancy. Leo Quinlan, who coordinated the enterprise module, said the students made a radio advertisement for guaranteed Irish products and were highly commended in the 2FM/TSB competition. Students also made a directory of Ennis listing its goods and services. One mini company printed T shirts for the school musical another made lunch rolls while a third is putting maths formulas into booklet form.
Quinlan says that he has noticed that students are much more cooperative in their business organisation class and are already familiar with terms such as collateral, security and overdraft.
Mount Sion Secondary School in Waterford began the LCVP last September and the principal, Brother Kevin Codd, says he fought hard to get it. "I went to a meeting in Cork last May and became very enthusiastic. I came back and wrote out a timetable and faxed it straight away to the inspector." The core subjects offered in the school are building construction and technical drawing.
Codd has also found that the programme has helped students become independent. The computers were installed the day before he spoke to E&L and he says they will "add an extra dimension to the whole idea".
