Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is undeniable that the 2022 leaving certificate exam cohort have faced multiple years of disrupted education. This includes lost tuition time, adverse classroom environments and a burden on their mental health that cannot be accurately measured. The combination of these factors has undoubtedly affected the education and well-being of these students in ways we cannot fathom. Therefore, it may come as little surprise that the Irish leaving certificate students are calling for a change in direction and have pointed to a hybrid model as the new way forward.

The Minister for Education cannot ignore the collective voices of student representative bodies, including the ISSU, and she must act without delay to give all these students the clarity they deserve.

My office is inundated with emails from students, mostly looking for clarity. The education system cannot continue to be in wait-and-see mode. The calls for the delivery of a hybrid leaving certificate must be acted on by the Minister for Education and the Government. Where does the Government stand on this issue? Is the Minister seeking a return to the traditional exams? Will steps be taken to make further adjustments to the exams by having fewer questions, or by placing a greater weight on students' projects, and so on?

The Taoiseach said two weeks ago that the possibility of a hybrid leaving certificate had not yet been ruled out, and that a decision would be made soon by the Government. How long will the wait go on for students, teachers and parents? Many parents and students are not at all happy with the Government for the current situation. It is a wait-and-see game but it is not good enough. There must be action today, and no later than today.

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