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Evaluating Post Leaving Certificate Provision in Ireland

Author

Listed:
  • Seamus McGuinness

    (Economic and Social Research Institute
    Trinity College Dublin
    IZA – Institute of Labor Economics, Bonn)

  • Adele Bergin

    (Economic and Social Research Institute
    Trinity College Dublin
    IZA – Institute of Labor Economics, Bonn)

  • Elish Kelly

    (Economic and Social Research Institute
    Trinity College Dublin)

  • Selina McCoy

    (Economic and Social Research Institute
    Trinity College Dublin)

  • Emer Smyth

    (Economic and Social Research Institute
    Trinity College Dublin)

  • Adele Whelan

    (Economic and Social Research Institute
    Trinity College Dublin)

Abstract

This paper summarises the key findings of an evaluation of the Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) Programme, the largest full-time further education (post-secondary non-tertiary) programme in Ireland. This programme has multiple purposes – preparing people for employment, acting as a bridge to higher education and serving as a second-chance route for adult learners. Based on evidence from both administrative data and a unique specially-designed learner survey, we find positive results for the estimated counterfactual impact of PLC provision on employment at 16 per cent relative to similar individuals who entered the labour market directly on completion of their (upper secondary) Leaving Certificate, with a corresponding positive estimate for transitions to higher education standing at 27 per cent. Nevertheless, the evaluation found that PLC courses were often poorly connected to the labour market and that reforms could further improve the labour market prospects of leavers.

Suggested Citation

  • Seamus McGuinness & Adele Bergin & Elish Kelly & Selina McCoy & Emer Smyth & Adele Whelan, 2019. "Evaluating Post Leaving Certificate Provision in Ireland," The Economic and Social Review, Economic and Social Studies, vol. 50(3), pages 557-585.
    • Handle: RePEc:eso:journl:v:50:y:2019:i:3:p:557-585
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    File URL: https://www.esr.ie/article/view/1254/239
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bergin, Adele & Kelly, Elish & McGuinness, Seamus, 2012. "Explaining Changes in Earnings and Labour Costs During the Recession," Papers EC9, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
    2. Kelly, Elish & McCoy, Selina & Smyth, Emer & Whelan, Adele & Banks, Joanne, 2014. "Further Education and Training in Ireland: Past, Present and Future," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number rs35 edited by McGuinness, Seamus & Bergin, Adele, June.
    3. Hannan, Damian F. & McCoy, Selina & Doyle, Audrey, 2003. "Expanding Post-School Learning Opportunities: Nature and Effects of Growth in Post-School Education/Training in the 1990s," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number BMI171, June.
    4. Watson, Dorothy & McCoy, Selina & Gorby, Shirley, 2006. "The Post-Leaving Certificate Sector in Ireland: A Multivariate Analysis of Educational and Employment Outcomes," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number BMI189, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Smyth, Emer & Devlin, Anne & Bergin, Adele & McGuinness, Seamus, 2022. "A North-South comparison of education and training systems: Lessons for policy," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number RS138, June.
    2. Celeste K. Carruthers & Christopher Jepsen, 2020. "Vocational Education: An International Perspective," CESifo Working Paper Series 8718, CESifo.
    3. Maître, Bertrand & Curristan, Sarah & Russell, Sarah, 2022. "Intergenerational poverty in Ireland," Research Series, Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), number RS150, June.

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