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The Post-Leaving Certificate Sector in Ireland: A Multivariate Analysis of Educational and Employment Outcomes

Embargo: Noon Wednesday 30 August 2006

The Minister of State, at the Department of Education and Science, Ms. Síle de Valera, T.D., today released a review of the Post-Leaving Certificate Sector entitled ‘The Post-Leaving Certificate Sector in Ireland: A Multivariate Analysis of Educational and Employment Outcomes’. The review was completed by the ESRI at the request of the Department of Education and Science.

The Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) programme has been in existence for over 20 years. Today’s report shows that in the academic year 2002/2003, there were just under 30,000 participants in the PLC programme, representing a large sector of educational provision. The popularity of the PLC programme reflects the diversity of courses available, most of which aim to support industry and community needs, and as such have significantly widened the scope of educational provision. The sector has pioneered education in such areas as childcare, community care, e-commerce, equestrian studies, sport and leisure, tourism, multimedia and music. It also provides a wide range of courses in more traditional areas such as business studies, art and craft, information technology, construction and electronics.

Main Findings of the Report

§ The PLC Programme is an important and valuable sector in education

§ The programme offers locally based courses in a diverse range of areas to a broad spectrum of groups in society

§ Increasingly the PLC sector is emerging as important in providing ‘second chance’ education and lifelong learning

§ For the most part, PLC courses do not serve as a route to higher education, but rather as an alternative form of education and training

§ PLC courses confer valuable skills and knowledge which enhance a persons’ chances of securing a job:
o PLCs are important as a means of bridging the transition from school to work for school leavers and
o As serving to reintegrate people into the labour market Dr Selina McCoy one of the authors of the report said “The important role of the PLC programme should not be underestimated. It provides a valuable means of boosting the skills and qualifications of a diverse group of school leavers and those seeking to return to education and employment”.

For further information contact:
Selina McCoy (Co-author, ESRI) on 01 6307180 (Selina.McCoy@esri.ie)
Dorothy Watson (Co-author, ESRI) on 01 6307207 (Dorothy.Watson@esri.ie)

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