The Irish Business and Employers' Confederation has called for the secondary education system to concentrate on "all-round development of the person rather than on a final examination". IBEC's education committee says in a submission to the NCCA Junior Cycle Review Committee that the junior cycle in secondary schools should build on what has been learnt at primary level, rather than be examination-driven.
The 80 per cent of students who progressed to Leaving Certificate level should develop skills in literacy, numeracy, communication, science, technology, modern languages, business, interpersonal relationships and enterprise, the submission says. The 20 per cent who left at Junior Cert level, or before, should also have an adequate level of literacy, numeracy and communication skills to enable them to avail of personal development at a later stage.