Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The expectation was raised in 2021 and 2020 when the NCCA issued a number of junior certificate sample questions online. These clearly stated that each question is not weighted the same in the marking scheme. That raised the expectation and the hope that clarity could be given around that to give teachers an ample opportunity to give guidance to their students. It is a difficult time for teachers and students and, as the Minister said, we have come through a difficult time in education because of the pandemic. With the first State examinations since and some sort of normality approaching, there is an eagerness among teachers to give their students as much advice and guidance around those exams as they can.

I appreciate the Minister's clarity on the question. We will endeavour to give our teachers as much clarity as possible closer to the time.

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