When enough is not enough! Evaluating the minimum entry requirements for apprenticeships in Ireland

In Ireland, enrolment in built environment apprenticeships requires the satisfaction of minimum entry criteria of at least five pass grades in the Junior Certificate examinations or equivalent. This study looks at the correlation between the academic performance in these examinations and successful completion of the apprenticeship process. It concerns 60 randomly selected carpentry and joinery, electrical and plumbing apprentices, registered between 2010 and 2016 with an expected completion date between 2014 and 2020. This paper presents a dataset for evaluating apprenticeship entry requirements and assessing the influence of STEM subjects on apprenticeship completion. The study found on average, 55% of candidates presenting with Junior Certificate completed their apprenticeship, growing to 100% as the candidates’ prior academic achievement increased. Additionally, the impact of mathematics entry level was significant, with completion rates increasing to 100% when higher level mathematics was undertaken. Because of the lack of readily available data, limited research exists evaluating entry requirements and as such the key contribution of this research will be to provide a base for further investigations and increase eventual apprenticeship completion rates.