ICT as a leaving cert subject?

Are you missing out on your education by not being able to take ICT as a discreet subject for the leaving cert. Obviously if you’re online checking out our site then your interested enough in technology already so why not gain a qualification in it?

ICT is taught in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales as a GCSE and A Level subject so are you missing out when you are competing against these students for places in college?

dual duel
photo credit: delphwynd

A PC is nearly as common as a TV in irish households these days, but not everyone has one. Introducing ICT onto the leaving cert curriculum would definitely be advantages for Irish students. It may also help the government to get the finger out and supply more schools with up to date computers and equipment.

We’re sure a lot of you would love to have more lessons in front of a computer too! Let us know your thoughts on this one please by dropping a comment below.

13 thoughts on “ICT as a leaving cert subject?”

  1. I think that would be a brilliant idea. I am ICT captain in school and it would be great to earn points doing something I love!

    1. Thanks for the comment. Yeah it’s great that your school is proactive in promoting ICT but gaining a qualification would be an extra incentive. Also, irish pupils may be at a disadvantage when going up against pupils with ICT qualifications for college places. Hopefully it’s introduced in the not too distant future. Surely it should be deemed important enough to be examinable by now!

  2. I think that would be a brilliant idea. I am ICT captain in school and it would be great to earn points doing something I love!

  3. Thanks for the comment. Yeah it's great that your school is proactive in promoting ICT but gaining a qualification would be an extra incentive. Also, irish pupils may be at a disadvantage when going up against pupils with ICT qualifications for college places. Hopefully it's introduced in the not too distant future. Surely it should be deemed important enough to be examinable by now!

  4. riverleejames

    Yeah ! I’d love ICT and computers are such an essential part of life ! I came from Spain and went into 5th year and ICT was a compulsory subject over there and I lvoe it !

  5. riverleejames

    Yeah ! I'd love ICT and computers are such an essential part of life ! I came from Spain and went into 5th year and ICT was a compulsory subject over there and I lvoe it !

  6. stephen murray

    Done my leaving cert in 1998 and computers (ICT) wasn’t on the curriculum then and im shocked to find that its still not there now.
    Yet we are supposedly looking towards creating smart technology jobs and such typical Irish Educational system Its like driving in this country it Should be taught in school as a compulsory subject outside of the leaving cert . i am currently looking at going back to education and possibly doing my leaving again and find that im looking at pretty much the same subjects now as i was in 1998 also loose the school books all the reading material should be on a tablet or laptop the weight of the bags is to much and when you go into employment you always here it “BE CAREFUL OF YOUR YOU’VE ONLY GOT ONE.” Where are health and safety for student tis no wonder back injuries are 1 of the biggest problems in the work force.

  7. 100% of children in schools will use ICT in their working lives. The fact that it’s still not a leaving cert subject in ROI is backwards.

    1. Excellent point! It definitely needs to go on the curriculum. Along with maths, english and irish (I know the jury’s out on that one) it should be a core subject with qualified teachers without a doubt!

  8. I finished high school in 1993 in Australia. I took a core module (one that contributes to university entrance ranking) called Information Processing and Technology. Over 2 years it included computer programming (3GL and 4GL), systems analysis/design, networking, operating systems and Database systems (including SQL). I was shocked to hear that we don’t have anything similar on the curriculum in Ireland given the effort to create a knowledge economy and attract international ICT investment. It seems like a no brainer to me that this should be on the curriculum here.

  9. Matthew Weiss

    It is really absurd that there is no ICT program in the secondary schools and no Junior or Senior Cert program. How can a country that depends on these skills be so backward in its approach? I have organised a CoderDojo in my son’s school so there is some connection between Computers and School but that is as far as it goes. This lack of foresight is going to effect these kids who are in 2 year now and for their whole school career are unlikely to really learn any Computer Skills.

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