Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her considered reply in respect of this matter. I note she states it is not accurate to say that schools or certain students were downgraded but that is how the students see it. Last Monday, when they got the estimated grades given to them by their teachers and learned those grades were above what they got in the official calculation grades, they viewed that as being downgraded. I recognise this is an exceptional event. One thing we can learn from this is that we need to get back to the leaving certificate as it usually operates because no matter what the unfairness of the leaving certificate may be, it is an objective and fair system of assessing academic ability.

What is going to happen in this appeal process? There is a huge amount of uncertainty as to what is involved and who will make the assessments under the appeals. Is it purely a clerical appeal or is there some further facility available to the students who put it in?

We should acknowledge the upset that has been felt by these students. A woman told me on the phone today that she was not prepared to leave the house because she was so concerned at how upset her son has been since he got his results. That is across the board and not just in certain schools or in certain counties. I have spoken to colleagues in this House and it is an issue throughout the country. We need to recognise the unfairness these students believe they have been subjected to.

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