University of Limerick
Browse

An analysis of national newspaper coverage relating to the Leaving Certificate programme in two newspapers in the Republic of Ireland

Download (580.41 kB)
journal contribution
posted on 2020-04-29, 09:38 authored by Orla Mc CormackOrla Mc Cormack, Jim Gleeson, Tom O'Donoghue
The Leaving Certificate programme in Ireland is a two year programme for upper second-level students and culminates in them sitting externally-set high stakes State examinations. Students’ experiences of the programme are dominated by these assessment demands and the level of media coverage of these examinations has been deemed ‘extraordinary’ by external observers. Drawing on 790 articles from two national newspapers across a four year time period (July 2013–July 2017), this paper provides, for the first time, an overview on the nature of the media coverage offered in this mode. Thematic analysis of the articles reveals a heavy emphasis on technical and instrumental aspects of the programme. Priority is placed on providing practical advice regarding the application process for a college place along with study skills and examination tips. Overall, a consensualist view of Irish students is reflected in the assumption that all wish to progress to higher education. Higher-level examinations are afforded more importance than ‘ordinary’ level papers and there is a focus on high-achieving academic students. There are also indicative silences that relate to less ‘distinguished’ aspects of the Leaving Certificate. The paper concludes by raising a number of related concerns.

History

Publication

Irish Educational Studies;39 (1)

Publisher

Taylor and Francis

Note

peer-reviewed

Rights

This is an Author's Manuscript of an article whose final and definitive form, the Version of Record, has been published in Irish Educational Studies, 2020 copyright Taylor & Francis, available online at:https://doi.o Irish rg/10.1080/03323315.2019.1664314

Language

English

Usage metrics

    University of Limerick

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC