Almost 90 per cent of those taking the Leaving Certificate Applied programme gain employment or enter further education after finishing the course, a new study has shown.
Six months after completing the LCA only 4 per cent were still seeking employment, 36 per cent were in jobs, 23 per cent were taking post-Leaving Certificate courses, while 16.5 per cent were undertaking apprenticeships or other forms of training.
The course is an alternative to the mainstream Leaving Certificate and concentrates on practical skills.
It allows students to gain two-thirds of their marks through modules, rather than one exam at the end of the two years.
A number of students who took the course received their certificates from the Minister for Education and Science, Dr Woods, yesterday.
The numbers taking the course have also been growing strongly since its introduction in 1995. About 3,000 students are expected to sit it this year, compared to 1,760 two years ago.
The number of schools offering it has also risen, from 53 in 1997 to 237 at present.
Of those who secured employment after the exam, the vast majority went into services or sales. The remainder went into manufacturing, catering, building and construction, clerical work, agriculture and childcare.
Reflecting the demand in the economy, the number of students taking apprenticeships rose from 11 percent in 1997 to 16.5 per cent last year. The apprenticeships were undertaken in construction, mechanical and hairdressing areas.
The students on post-Leaving Certificate courses mainly pursued business, information technology or childcare programmes.
In addition to the 4 per cent who were seeking employment, there was another 8 per cent whose progress was unknown or who were unavailable for work. Dr Woods said the LCA was "one of the most important and beneficial innovations in second level education in Ireland".
Mr Albert O Ceallaigh, chief executive of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, which developed the course, said the LCA provided "the right combination of traditional content and the newer skills that are becoming more relevant in today's work place".