Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move:

That Dáil Éireann: notes that:

— Leaving Certificate students faced significant disruption to their learning when school buildings were closed between January and March 2021, particularly those without access to electronic devices or a stable internet connection;

— many Leaving Certificate students have had lengthy periods of self-isolation, as they unfortunately contracted Covid-19 over the course of the last year, or were named a close contact of a positive case; and

— many Leaving Certificate subject teachers similarly had to self-isolate, some more than once;

further notes that:

— high levels of absence amongst students and teachers, through no fault of their own, has had a significant impact on the ability of Leaving Certificate students to prepare thoroughly for their State examinations; and

— many classes, due to student and staff absences, have not had the opportunity to cover the entire Leaving Certificate curriculum;

recognises that:

— the lack of clarity on what Leaving Certificate 2022 will look like is causing significant stress and anxiety for students and their families;

— in a survey of over 40,000 students carried out by the Irish Second-Level Students' Union, 68 per cent of Leaving Certificate students stated their preference for a Leaving Certificate model based on a choice between calculated grades and written examinations;

— Junior Certificate students have also endured significant disruption, and the Minister for Education needs to provide clarity on whether changes will be made to their exams to take into account any disruption they have experienced;

— the Leaving Certificate generally is in urgent need of reform, which has been highlighted further by the Covid-19 pandemic; and

— the varying levels of disruption encountered by students cannot be resolved through additional changes to the written examinations alone; and

calls on the Government to:

— place the voice of students at the centre of the debate on Leaving Certificate 2022;

— secure a choice for Leaving Certificate 2022 students, between calculated grades and written examinations; and

— take decisive and urgent action to bring clarity and peace of mind to the Leaving Certificate class of 2022.

In any year, the leaving certificate examinations are challenging and stressful. We have all heard the stories of people having nightmares about the examinations many years later and that reflects the urgent need to reform the leaving certificate examinations. The pandemic has highlighted this urgent need. It is not a fair and equitable way of evaluating students. It is not without its merits entirely, but it is a form of evaluation that places too much pressure in the context of relying on a final terminal examination. I refer as well to the pressure that comes from the leaving certificate not evaluating all skills and not having the flexibility we should have for modern students. It is vitally important to bear that aspect in mind as we discuss what we will do in this pandemic year to respond to the challenges that students face.

I say that because some of the arguments made against the hybrid model neglect to consider several things. They neglect the extent of the disruption and absences. They also neglect the extent to which those facets have impacted on education, and I will return to this point later. The other thing neglected, and Dr. Gerry McNamara of Dublin City University, DCU, made this point in The Irish Timesatthe weekend, is that some of those criticisms imply or forget that the leaving certificate was never truly equitable in any event. To some extent, it reflected existing inequalities and injustices in Irish society. There are, undoubtedly, ways in which people can gain an advantage through the current leaving certificate examination system.

When I speak to leaving certificate students and their families, and many teachers as well, they tell me that the anxiety, stress and uncertainty are becoming unbearable. Therefore, the first thing they need is clarity and an early decision on this year's leaving certificate examinations. It must be made as early as possible. The students need and deserve to know what kind of leaving certificate examinations they will be facing. They deserve to know what it is they are preparing for.

I am also tabling this motion because the students need a choice. I am certain that this is entirely warranted and that it is the fairest manner of evaluating these students in these circumstances. I am hearing the same story from many students, families and teachers across the State. Let us consider that school buildings were closed for more than two months and that when students did return to school, they were not the highest priority at the time. Since then, a great deal of time has also been lost because of the self-isolation of students and staff. There were also many other disruptions. Many students are caregivers and have other responsibilities. They are struggling to cover the course. This is about the stress and pressure involved, but it is not just about that. It is also about how much time has been lost and how difficult it is proving to cover the course. Many students are telling me that their teachers have decided not to organise mock examinations or pre-examinations in a subject because they are not far enough advanced in the course. I note, in particular, that the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, NAPD, has called for a hybrid model to be used again this year. The Minister listened to the students last year and I welcomed that. I urge her to do the same thing again. She valued the voices of students on that occasion, and I ask her to do so again.

Given that we need to listen to the voices of students, I will quote from some of the comments I have received from students. One said, "It’s just so tiring [...] waiting for a decision to be taken". Another said:

I am dreading this year’s exams. I am not sleeping recently. I usually do really [well] in school but I’m not prepared to sit the LC this year. We have so much of the course still to cover, as well as [struggling] to catch up on work because I was a close contact. I just want the stress to end.

Yet another said that, "As a Leaving Cert student my anxiety levels are sky high and we still have no clarity", while another put it like this:

Many students struggled to cope with the pressure of a lockdown, myself included [....] On top of the pressure and stress of school work and the pandemic, it was a tough year to say the very least [...] we came back to school after the lockdown many teachers were out sick and there were not enough substitute teachers for classes which meant that we didn’t get all of the work done.

Since the weekend people all over the country are celebrating the lifting of restrictions and there is a sense of relief as the country can start to get back to some kind of normality.

It is upsetting that most leaving certificate students cannot enjoy this in the same way as everyone else because unfortunately they still feel like they cannot breathe. One sixth year student said that the Minister should have a phone call with all the leaving certificate students so she can hear their stories; I agree. Students' voices need to be at the heart of this.

According to the Irish Second–Level Students Union, ISSU, since the Christmas break 49.5% of students have missed one to three classes on average a day. Some 9% of students have missed four to five classes a day. Of those who missed classes, 54% only had substitutes for some classes. Disruption is absolutely enormous. They are struggling to cover the course. It may not be the same as last year but it is not a normal year. It is a pandemic year. It is absolutely required to have that hybrid model and choice for students this year.

See this speech in context