Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will give details of the preliminary findings of two separate investigations launched by him into grade inflation in secondary and third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10994/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I recently asked my officials, in conjunction with the relevant State bodies, to examine available evidence in regard to the question of trend increases in grades awarded at second and third levels. Papers have been prepared for me in respect of the State examinations and the higher education sector.

With regard to the State examinations, while there has been a significant increase in the proportions scoring at grade AB and ABC at higher level in the leaving certificate between 1992 and 2009, most of the increase took place during the 1990s and grades have largely stabilised since the establishment of the State Examinations Commission, SEC, in 2003. The SEC has in place an extensive range of quality assurance measures to ensure the validity and consistency of assessment. A range of issues can impact on grading in the certificate examinations, including curriculum reform, introduction of second assessment components, investment in professional development for teachers, more exam-oriented teaching, and better information for teachers and students through improved Internet access.

With regard to higher education, it is the case that the data presented indicate a trend of increasing award levels. The proportion of students gaining first class honours in level 8 degree programmes increased from 11.2% to 16.6% in the institutes of technology between 1998 and 2008, and from 8.3% to 16.2% in the universities between 1997 and 2008. Several contributory factors must be considered, including deliberate decisions on assessment standards prompted by external examiner findings aimed at aligning Irish standards more closely with international norms. Improved and more explicit assessment methods, with the development of learning outcomes-based approaches, and better prepared students are also arguably important factors.

Gade increases in higher education are, however, also argued by some to be indicative of a relaxation of standards. This is a subject of debate across systems internationally. Notwithstanding the inconclusive nature of that debate, my principal concerns in an Irish context are on two fronts. I want to safeguard and enhance the quality of our graduates and to ensure the robustness of our systems of quality assurance. The question of graduate quality is a complex one of fundamental strategic importance. The higher education strategy group is currently addressing the broader challenges involved.

On the quality assurance front, I am establishing a new qualifications and quality assurance agency. This will bring a unified focus to external quality assurance in higher education and establish a closer link between quality assurance and the standards underpinning awards under the national framework of qualifications.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The information the Minister has given the House is worrying because it confirms the trend identified by many people in the education system in recent years. It seems the Minister has only recently taken action following conversations he has had with senior people in leading multinational companies located in the State. It is right and proper that the views of such persons be heard. However, two years ago, the Minister's Department, through the State Examinations Commission, rubbished data published under the name of the Network for Irish Education Standards which highlighted the problem of grade inflation, particularly in respect of the leaving certificate, over the past two decades. Given its rubbishing of these findings, does the Minister have confidence in the State Examinations Commission? Does he have confidence in the Higher Education Authority and in the universities' quality assurance system? It seems the regulatory system we charge with putting a premium on higher education has been found wanting.

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Analysis has shown that there was grade inflation in the leaving certificate at higher level but that it levelled off after the establishment of the State Examinations Commission in 2003. Since then the variation in grade inflation is not significant. This indicates clearly that the State Examinations Commission is functioning as it should and that there are effective controls in place for those setting and examining papers. The conclusive finding in terms of quality control is that only 0.7% of appeals are successful. Students now have access to the marking scheme for every subject and can, on request, scrutinise their completed scripts after the results have issued.

Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Will the Minister not accept that his Department has been in complete denial about this problem for several years? When it was brought to the attention of the Department by academics at the Institute of Technology, Tralee, their findings were rubbished. The Minister has decided to take action only because the issue has been brought to his attention by United States multinationals. The regulatory system is not working, which has quality assurance implications for graduates and in terms of the reputation of our education system abroad. The Minister's first responsibility is to accept that and to take radical action to ensure we have a regulatory system in which people, including graduates, can have confidence.

I strongly concur, as I suspect the Minister does, with recent comments by Dr. Craig Barrett on our education system. In view of those comments, does the Minister propose to introduce changes to the leaving certificate?

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I have dealt with the leaving certificate. As I said, I am satisfied there are proper controls in terms of grading standards. In regard to third level, there is no denying that there has been grade inflation. Dr. Barrett has given exactly the same advice in this regard to the United States Administration. There has been a similar grade inflation in the United Kingdom and other jurisdictions. We have looked at international trends and standards and have introduced a mechanism through the universities' quality control system.

We must not undermine in any way the quality of the degrees awarded by Irish institutions and, therefore, of the graduates they produce. It is because of the flexibility of our graduates and the high quality of the education they have received that multinationals choose to locate here. Continuing announcements of the creation of high-tech jobs indicate that there is confidence in our education system. We must challenge that system into the future. That is why I am putting in place a new qualifications and quality assurance agency which can go into the various institutions and compare one with another.