Mr. Hugh Ahern:

Yes, I mentioned that in my submission at the outset but I will go through it again. Continuous assessment is incredibly important. It takes a good deal of the stress off the students. If the students know that they are going to have continuous assessment in fifth year and maybe one in sixth year, he or she knows that if he or she screws up on the final exam, he or she still has that continuous assessment, which will give some bit of hope to him or her. Continuous assessment is possible and important as it also encourages students to stop cramming study because there are certain students who work throughout the year and then other students who just cram everything into the final couple of months before the exam, and continuous assessment would make those students do a small bit more. Continuous assessments keeps students in the mind frame. They will be able to know when everything is ready. It also develops life skills such as research, project work and so on. I mentioned that in my third recommendation. Continuous assessment could be counted towards that as well.

The Deputy's second question relates to apprenticeships. They are sort of forgotten. I would not say they were forgotten but everyone wants to go to college. It is the first question anyone would ask. If you meet students who have just completed the leaving certificate, the first question they are asked is what are they going to do, and they are expecting something about college. More emphasis needs to be put on the apprenticeships and the CAO should take a somewhat more involved role in apprenticeships. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Skills, and the Minister, Deputy Harris, have put a huge emphasis on apprenticeships but more emphasis should be put on them, and perhaps they could be promoted in transition year. It seems like an area that is sort of forgotten or pushed away. There is a need for apprenticeships. There was an article on one of the national broadcasters about a shortage of skills and how we need to start bringing people in to apprenticeships.

It can be more labour but many benefits come out of apprenticeships.