Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As others have, I appeal to the Minister, Deputy Foley, to ensure that a flexible approach is adopted for our leaving certificate students who will have been so disadvantaged and disrupted over three years. An approach that involves ongoing assessment, accredited grades and a written exam has a role to play in this process. We must listen to the student voice. We have all received correspondence from the ISSU, which tells us quite clearly, on the basis of a report it carried out, that the student voice is very clear and it is obvious that the students want a hybrid model. The report refers to the stress, anxiety, uncertainty and fear of students. We are hearing the voices of students themselves and we certainly must act on what they are telling us. As a former teacher who worked with disadvantaged pupils quite a bit, I feel that the fairest way forward, to ensure no student is disadvantaged, is to make sure a flexible model is put in place for leaving certificate students. We must bear in mind they will have had three years of disruption. I have received direct reports from students who have told me that they are cold in classrooms in prefabs. This is also having a bearing on their concentration levels and everything else. I feel that we must be fair with them. As the Irish saying goes, "mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí". Listening to the student voice is paramount in this whole debate. I am aware that the Minister is doing her best with this difficult situation but I call on her and appeal to her to do her best and take on board the students' voices. The majority of students, 85%, are telling us in the report carried out by the ISSU that they want a hybrid model.

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