Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In recent weeks, I attended a meeting with the advisory group on State examinations, which has representatives of students, parents, teachers, managerial bodies, the further and higher education sector and the State Examinations Commission. As I previously outlined, following on from this meeting, I met with the members of the advisory group on a one-to-one and bilateral basis and had further engagement with each of them thereafter. I listened carefully to what each of these stakeholders had to say and examined each of their points.

Following consideration of this matter by Government today, I announced the decision to operate an examinations approach for leaving certificate in 2022, with significant further adjustments to the examinations, and to provide students with a commitment that the overall results of leaving certificate 2022 will not be lower than in 2021.

As the Deputy may be aware, it would not have been possible to run accredited grades in the same manner as last year because junior cycle data were unavailable for one in four of our students. The further extensive changes I have announced to the examination papers, over and above those announced in August 2021, mean that candidates have greater choice in the papers, fewer questions to answer and still have the same time as in a normal year to complete the examination. Various examples can be given. For the Spanish oral, rather than having five presentations to prepare for in terms of role play, they will only have three. In the sraith pictiúr in Irish, where they would normally have 20 to prepare for, they now have ten. This is, of course, a significant change to the examinations as students would have known them and an accommodation of issues that have been raised by them.

Timeframes for certain assessment elements of the leaving certificate applied examinations have been also pushed out. Schools were also reminded of the flexibilities regarding the dates for completion and authentication of examination course work. Importantly, I also confirmed that junior cycle examinations will take place this summer. Adjustments to the assessment arrangements for junior cycle were published in August 2021 and provide for more teaching time in schools. They include a reduction in the number of CBAs to be completed, the removal of the requirement to complete assessment tasks and adjustments to the requirements in course work and practical performance tests. I believe the decision will provide the junior cycle and leaving certificate students of 2022 with an opportunity for their learning and attainment at the end.

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