Mr. Evan Murphy:

I thank the Cathaoirleach and committee members for the opportunity to speak. Over the past two years, many young people's lives and futures have been impacted

heavily by disruptions to their education and training. This has been a truly unifying experience throughout the whole island, North and South of the Border and across communities. It has been an experience that ties us together.

I was in fifth year during the onset of the first lockdown and it was a significant shock to the system for me and my peers. The loss of learning we experienced, coupled with prolonged periods of isolation and uncertainty regarding how we would get through our leaving certificates, will surely be of consequence. That said, we did get through it. However, the skills we need to offset the negative impacts of these disruptions must be cultivated, going forward. Currently, this is not sufficiently addressed in the school curricula of either the North or South of the island. These soft skills, such as empathy, teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking, communication and conflict resolution, will be essential for the young people of the island of Ireland in further developing this previously demonstrated resilience and optimising their employability. These are also the skills that are needed in us all, young and old, to bring about a better constitutional future.

Through a combination of formal and non-formal education, a robust social toolkit may be developed that will be invaluable in the discussions on the prospect of constitutional change and the possibility of reunification between our two nations. This will undoubtedly be a complex and emotionally charged process and, therefore, ensuring young people, who are our future leaders, can put these skills into practice, move beyond division and navigate these topics with nuance, consideration and compassion is nothing less than essential.

How might we bring together the two school systems in the case of reunification? The way education is structured, the curricula themselves and the values and conventions of each system are significantly different on either side of the Border. Of course, both are predicated on denominational education and, therefore, religious segregation. We must consider whether it is possible to reconcile this going forward. With a focus on pooling resources, ideas and skills, and involving young people in the process, the greatest outcome possible for the young people of this island may be achieved. That could be a dual system in which the leaving certificate and A-levels are recognised equally or an outright merger and the creation of something new and truly fit for purpose that reimagines what education can and should be for young people in the 21st century.

The recently announced changes to the leaving certificate, particularly regarding the new marking loads, are promising in that they have the intention of alleviating the pressure and crunch of the two-week period of examinations. Perhaps we should go even further and reconsider whether exams are the most appropriate way to assess learning and development for young people in general.

In respect of the handling of the 2020 and 2021 leaving certificate examinations, many students felt let down by the Department of Education’s decisions and how they were communicated. Since then, the Department has recognised the impact on students and teachers. The provision of new leaving certificate subjects, such as drama, film and theatre studies, and climate action and sustainable development, indicates a move towards greater flexibility and choice of subjects, an appreciation of young people’s talents and interests, and an attempt to support their desire for a better future. It is this effort to engage with, respect and nurture the passions and new ideas of young people that will need to be the focus of change in the coming years. Our education system must give young people the tools to deal with civic and political issues, such as the constitutional future of our island, and, most important, enable them to enjoy fulfilling and productive lives.

Looking back on the pandemic, and turning toward our constitutional future, we must take stock and allow experience to inform how we proceed. We owe it to young people to think big. We have a prime opportunity to create a more equitable yet no less ambitious system - a system that meets the needs of young people and is inclusive for all on our island. We must use the precedents of education as a foundation for positive change and not a ceiling.

I again thank the committee for the invitation to speak.