The Leaving Certificate Applied is a two year Leaving Certificate available to students who wish to follow a practical programme with a strong practical and vocational emphasis. It is one of three Leaving Certificate options offered by the Department of Education and Skills. The fundamental goal of the Leaving Certificate Applied is to prepare Leaving Certificate participants for transition from the world of the school/centre to that of adult and working life.
This transition is complex and demanding for a variety of reasons
- patterns, and the qualities, aptitudes and personal skills required in the work-place have changed
- participants are remaining longer in formal education and in training than heretofore and the period of transition is also more lengthy
- in addition to the challenges in relation to education, training and jobs, participants are also faced with related, social, personal and cultural issues.
It is essential that the talents of all Leaving Certificate participants are recognised and that they are afforded an opportunity to develop in terms of responsibility, self-esteem and self-knowledge. Participants should also develop communication and decision making skills so as to achieve a more independent and enterprising approach to learning and to life.