Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 17 November 2020

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills

Key Priorities and the Effects of Covid-19 on the Education System: Department of Education

Photo of Pauline O'ReillyPauline O'Reilly (Green Party)
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I do not know how I could. I do not agree with the proposal for an additional break of two days. I do not see much benefit in it in terms of stopping the pandemic. It has been clearly shown that children are benefiting from returning to school. I would argue that some children would benefit more from being at home, but that is my background. We need to be honest with ourselves and say that, although school is fantastic and children are delighted to be back, it is also a form of childcare and there are many people who do not want their children to take any more days off school. It is a benefit to workers. That is my view on the matter, which I wanted to share with the Minister and Minister of State. They might revert to me on the issues of calculated grades and ASD classes.

Many people have contacted me, particularly those who are sitting exams currently, who feel a little like they were collateral damage and that much of the conversation has been about how most people were not downgraded but instead saw an increase in their grades compared with previous years. There are those who feel that, because they were in classes of high-achieving young people, they were unfairly downgraded. Does the Minister agree with their belief that they were collateral damage and that they need to be part of the conversation?