Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I have a final question. I am very much minded by what Deputy Matthews said, namely, that we need to hear the voices of students, particularly in the context of the question I am about to ask now. On the leaving certificate, Mr. Rolston stated that second level education is about preparing students for third level and for entry to the workplace. I agree with him that that is very much the attitude that has prevailed in Ireland since the time I did my leaving certificate some 25 years ago to now. It is not necessarily about an education in itself and that the leaving certificate is just that moment that measures whether one gets to do the apprenticeship or the course in university or college one wants to do. Is there confidence among students and their parents in the grading system that has been developed and, in particular, how that will be adapted to a bell curve based on this combination of factors, including how a school has done historically, and of course private schools, where parents can afford to pay very large sums of money and which tend to come top of school league tables?