Almost 60,000 Leaving Cert Students Awaiting Results

Almost sixty thousand Leaving Certificate students are due to receive their exam results today (Wednesday).

Congratulating the 57,929 students, Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O'Sullivan, said: "Today marks the end of a long wait for you, your families and your teachers. It is great that so many students have achieved grades that reflect the dedication and effort they invested in their second level education.

"Whilst today is a very important day for everyone involved, it is also the beginning of the next stage of our young people's lives. Students have many options available to them, from the traditional higher education route, to the hugely varied opportunities across the further education sector.

"For anyone who may be disappointed with their results, I would urge them to carefully consider all of the possibilities that are open to them – every student can still achieve exactly what they want to."

The Minister noted the importance of the expanding apprenticeship sector. She said: "There are an increasing variety of high quality, career-focused routes for students who complete the Leaving Certificate. In the mind of some the Leaving Certificate is synonymous with CAO points and university places, but that narrow view does an injustice to the thousands of students each year who chose a different career path.

"This year I am delighted to say that hundreds of students who have completed their Leaving Certificate will be able to consider the opportunities offered by a range of new apprenticeships coming on stream in 2016.

"Work is underway in developing high quality apprenticeships in 25 sectors as diverse as travel, hospitality, computing, financial services and medical devices. 

"These apprenticeships offer an alternative pathway to a sustainable and exciting career in expanding areas of the economy and I hope that many of today's school leavers will consider their exciting potential."

(MH/JP)