Sir, - As teachers, we wish to express our intense frustration with the withholding of assessment for the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme. Our experience of this programme has been hugely positive. Students, parents, teachers and employers have all been equally enthusiastic in their feedback to this programme. This does not surprise us, as we have watched our present LCA students become skilled, creative, able people, organised in themselves and focused on their future and, the world of work. we consider them the best possible advertisement for this course.
it is absolutely unconscionable that the tremendous work done on the ground by teachers and students should be dismissed so arbitrarily by the Department of Education. The department is allowing an internal dispute overstaffing levels to decimate the LCA.
The continuous assessment which is such a positive and integral part of the Leaving Cert Applied has been indefinitely deferred, depriving the students of the closure to which they are entitled. Also, these students cannot prepare for their exams in June. Although these exams make up 33 per cent of the student's overall mark, to date sample papers have not even been issued by the department due to the ongoing dispute. This is a point which seems to have completely escaped media attention or indeed, interest.
At a time when other Leaving Cert students are settling down to their pre-Leaving Cert exams, the LCA students have not even seen an example of the style of paper which they are expected to sit in May. if the situation were not so appalling, it would be farcical. As can be imagined, the effect on the morale of both teachers and students is devastating. Their anger and frustration is palpable, and rightly so. There is no doubt that if traditional Leaving Cert students were affected in this way the media, and indeed the whole country, would be in uproar.
Our message to the Minister is this: Get it sorted, and get it sorted now. Otherwise, in this election year, you could lose a tremendous and worthwhile course. - Yours, etc.,
Colaiste na Toirbhirte, Ard Aoibhinn, Bandon, Co Cork.