Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Thank you. I have a couple of questions before I go back to the other speakers. In all of this debate on the reform of the leaving certificate, the most important people we have to take into account are the students as it is about what they want. From the witnesses’ experience, what do they think the students want out of a reformed leaving certificate? Mr. Crone said that those on the highest points do not always make the best doctors. From the time a person goes into secondary school, it is all about having to go to college, the CAO and the leaving certificate. However, when we listen to the radio in recent days, it is all about the haulage sector, the hospitality sector, paramedics and the shortages in all of these areas, including apprenticeships. I do not believe every student has to go to college or that every student has to have a fantastic leaving certificate to get the best out of life or to get the best job in life. Common sense is probably one of the best things for them to learn. What do the witnesses believe students need?

We look at the people who do not want to go to college but find themselves in the points race and the CAO because their friends and everyone else are doing it. I will begin with Mr. Crone and I ask all of the witnesses to make their own points on it.