Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On that point, when I initially heard about the reforms, my instinct was conservative. Now, I am an absolute advocate of the reforms, as proposed, to move away from the State exam. The more I thought about it and the more I read about it, the more in favour of it I became. My daughter is nine years of age and will be ten in the summer. I do not want her to have to be under the kind of pressure that goes with a State exam when she is 15 years old. I do not see the need for it and I do not understand why there needs to be that high-stakes exam at that stage. If there was to be a compromise, could it be the Finnish model? In that case, there is an external evaluation on a rolling basis, with samples that are moved through different subjects and different geographical areas.

Many voices in favour of it are not being heard, even among teachers. Schools involved in the pilot schemes, those involved in the process of planning for this and the consultation process organised by the NCCA and pupils are among those in favour of it. That side of the argument is not getting enough publicity.

I read a discussion document dealing with the transition from second to third level. Áine Hyland was the chair of the body involved. I was one of the people who found it very difficult to get used to the change when I went to third level. I struggled with third level although I came out of it okay and got my degree. When I look back, I realise retrospectively that the problem was the change from rote learning into the environment in third level. I felt I was thrown to the wolves and left to my own devices. I managed to deal with it but that is an awful lot to expect when there is such a structured approach at second level. The discussion document concerning transitions from second to third level said the reforms introduced in the junior certificate did not go far enough. Teachers involved in the system reverted to type. If we do not get rid of the State exam and really reform the system, everything will revert to type.