Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies for raising this issue and for allowing me to address the matter. At the outset, I would like to say that I am very much aware of the disruption experienced by students who are due to take their leaving certificate examinations this year in the class of 2022. It is welcome that the schools reopened at the normal time after the Christmas holidays. I know that schools are working tirelessly to deliver the best possible educational experience to students. It is important to say that. All planning for the 2022 examinations is guided by the prevailing public health advice and it will have regard to the well-being of students. The Department of Education continues to engage with the partners in education on all matters relating to the leaving certificate 2022 examinations. The next meeting of the advisory group on the State examinations is planned for tomorrow. The advisory group includes representatives of students, parents, teachers and school leaders, as well as representatives from the State Examinations Commission, SEC, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, higher education and my Department.

Adjustments to the examination papers for the 2022 State examinations were announced in August 2021. These adjustments were designed to take account of both the disruption to learning experience by students in the early part of 2021, as well as providing for some possible further disruption in the 2021-22 academic school year. The adjustments ensure that the overall structure of the examinations remains intact, but allow for greater choicer for students. Revised arrangements for leaving certificate oral examinations in Irish, in the modern foreign languages and the practical performance tests in leaving certificate music were announced last month. These examinations will now take place outside of school time over the first week of school Easter holidays. By moving these examinations to the Easter holidays, the State Examinations Commission aims to minimise disruption to teaching and learning, especially for those candidates preparing for the examinations, as this change will specifically limit teacher absence from schools.

The State Examinations Commission also recently provided further information to schools regarding aspects of the 2022 State examinations. This included postponing commencement of assessment of what is known as the leaving certificate applied February tasks from 31 January to 14 February. Schools were also reminded of the flexibility which is available regarding the dates for completion and authentication of coursework for leaving certificate candidates. I have also announced that an alternative set of leaving certificate examinations will be run 2022, shortly after the conclusion of the main set of examinations. This will be for students who are unable to set the main set of examinations for various reasons, including Covid-19 illness, bereavement or serious illness.

Finally, the Department of Education has also provided a suite of guidance materials agreed with the educational partners to enable schools to mediate the curriculum safely for all pupils and students in a Covid-19 context. The Department of Education will continue to engage with all partners in education on all matters relating to the leaving certificate 2022 examinations. As I said, the meeting of the advisory group on planning for State examinations 2022 has been planned for tomorrow, Thursday. As previously outlined, this group represents the widest possible experience of stakeholders in education, students, parents, teachers and managerial bodies. It is important that this advisory group has been in operation for a considerable amount of time. Their last meeting was on 20 December, where the decision around the final arrangements as regards the examinations for the orals and the musical practicals was taken. The next meeting will take place tomorrow. I look forward to that opportunity tomorrow to hear again the views, thoughts and experiences of everybody around the table. They have played a vital role up to this point in determining how we proceed. It is important that they be afforded the opportunity also tomorrow.

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