Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste is making a false argument and, perhaps unsurprisingly, addressing the wrong issue. There is no dissent on the need for reform, continuous assessment and creativity, participation and so on among all children at primary, second and third level. The issue concerns marking, grading and accreditation. Teachers are saying - many parents and students agree with them - that in grading junior cycle achievement we have to be sure the system is objective, standardised, fair and credible.

That is the great beauty of external assessment. The teachers argued that point. I trust teachers absolutely and I trust their judgment on this matter. For all the flaws it has and all the arguments people have with it, the leaving certificate has always been justifiably recognised for one sterling quality, which is its objectivity. People, teachers, students and parents value that. We need the reform. Why is the Government holding it up by a stubborn refusal to listen to teachers who say that they are for all of that but insist that it is externally graded and accredited?

The Tánaiste should not try to make a comparison between a third-level institution where students come from every corner of the country and beyond to be taught and a school in a rural area or even an urban area where teachers live and where relationships are very strong. It is a very different dynamic. The teachers make a fair call for external grading and assessment to ensure the credibility of the junior cycle, learning and learning achievements. Why can the Government not listen to that and do the reasonable thing?

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