TUI congratulates students on Junior Certificate achievements

By piofficer, Wednesday, 14th September 2016 | 0 comments

The Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) today congratulated students on their Junior Certificate achievements and urged them to stay on to complete a Leaving Certificate programme.

The union has called for a full restoration of guidance counselling provision to schools to enable all students to make informed subject choices for the Leaving Certificate.

Speaking today, TUI President Joanne Irwin said:

‘Students should be proud of reaching this milestone, and teachers also deserve credit for delivering a quality education service in an era when key programmes and supports have been cut. We would like to pay special tribute to those mature students who returned to education to take the examination.

Alternative options should be promoted and enhanced

For a variety of educational, social and economic reasons, it is critical that all students continue with their education. Alternative options such as the Leaving Certificate Applied and Leaving Certificate Vocational programme must continue to be promoted and, where possible, enhanced.

Guidance counselling provision must be restored

In choosing subjects for the Leaving Certificate, students should consider areas that are of most interest and that genuinely engage them. In this regard, it is most regrettable that guidance counselling provision in schools has been considerably stripped back since 2012. The service must be fully restored as a matter of urgency to enable all students to make as informed a choice as possible.

Those students taking Transition Year will have the opportunity to engage in voluntary work that directly helps those in need and strengthens the bond between schools and their communities.

Celebrate, but do so responsibly

It is important that students celebrate responsibly. We urge those in the off-licence trade and vintners to be vigilant and not to sell alcohol to minors.’ 

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