Dáil debates

Thursday, 30 July 2020

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions

State Examinations

11:05 am

Photo of Mick BarryMick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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9. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the postponement in publishing the results of the 2020 leaving certificate in view of the fact schools have submitted their information regarding grading on schedule; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19334/20]

11:15 am

Photo of Mick BarryMick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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Why are the leaving certificate results being given out three weeks later than originally intended when the schools provide the information to the Department that they were asked to give bang on time?

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy.

On 8 May 2020 it was announced that the leaving certificate examinations were to be postponed and that calculated grades would be provided as an option for leaving certificate students for 2020. At that time, it was also announced that the grades would be finalised and issued for each student as close as possible to the traditional date of issue of the leaving certificate results. At no time was a definitive date for release of the 2020 calculated grades announced.

The date of 7 September is the earliest possible release date given the rigorous and robust quality assurance checks required to ensure the process is executed with equity and fairness to all students and to ensure that the 2020 results enjoy the same status as those of previous years. The results will be available in time for round 1 offers from CAO and UCAS for colleges and universities in Ireland and UK. I have written to every European minister with responsibility for higher education and asked for Irish students to be accommodated. I have received assurances from the Dutch authorities that their higher education institutions are being advised to accommodate the entry of Irish students in September in view of the conditions caused by Covid-19.

The recent announcement that the results would issue on 7 September has been portrayed perhaps as a delay but it is the additional three weeks that are required. More than 450,000 individual grades have to be prepared and subject to checks and balances as part of the national standardisation process. It is of vital importance that the process is given sufficient time to execute to the highest standards and to rigorous and robust quality assurance so that the results provided in 2020 enjoy the same status and value as the leaving certificates of previous and indeed those to come.

The standardisation process is overseen by a national standardisation group. The group comprises representatives from the calculated grades executive office and the inspectorate, both from my Department; the Educational Research Centre and the State Examinations Commission. The group meets regularly to analyse and review the most recent iteration of the model and to discuss the outcomes and review how best to proceed in adjusting the model and also to work through the validation process. The Educational Research Centre has also been engaged to provide a data quality assurance and verification service on the data processing and standardisation processes.

Photo of Mick BarryMick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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No matter what way the Minister spins it this is a delay. What is the real reason for this? Is it that if one postpones the dissemination of the results, one postpones the sitting of leaving certificate 2020 for those who want to sit it? If one postpones the sitting of the leaving certificate 2020, one kills the chance for those students sitting the exam and using those results to get into college for the year 2020-2021. Instead they will use calculated grades to get into college for the year 2020-2021 and all of the other calculated grades do not need to be recalculated, which potentially saves the Department from a hell of a lot of lawsuits. Is that the real reason for this three-week delay, and it is a delay in the distribution of leaving certificate results this year?

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The single and only reason for the additional three weeks is to ensure that all possible robust checks and balances required to ensure the high quality and integrity of leaving certificate 2020 stands on a par with leaving certificate 2019 and 2021. The only agenda and objective here is that students will benefit and have confidence in the mechanism that has been used to provide the calculated grades. The additional time is necessary to ensure that the integrity and high quality is maintained so that the leaving certificate class of 2020 can stand with absolute confidence with the leaving certificate class of 2019 and the classes of 2021, 2022, or 2023 as we go forward. It is for the benefit of the students and the integrity of the exam that the additional three weeks is required.

Photo of Mick BarryMick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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What about the students who are taking the leaving certificate next year? The Taoiseach informed me yesterday that the syllabus will not be changed and that exams will go ahead but that the students will be offered more choices in order to reflect and take into account the fact that those students have lost much face-to-face teacher time this year. The students are interested in hearing that but want to know what is the extent of the changes and the scope of the choices that they are going to be given. When is that information going to be given to the students?

The Taoiseach also said there would be maximum consultation with next year’s leaving certificate students and he wanted to ensure they were happy with the changes that were made. If they are not happy with the changes that are being proposed, will the Minister give a guarantee that they will be reviewed and changes will be made to take into account their wishes on the issue?

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this point. I have clarified it previously but there is no harm doing so again because it is very important to the students and the parents of the class of 2021. As the Taoiseach correctly said the curriculum will have to stand because at leaving certificate level there is no one mechanism for teachers to teach a particular aspect of the curriculum. They have the freedom to choose at any stage where they will begin within the curriculum. Acknowledging that point, the curriculum will continue but there will be the widest possible choice within the assessment of that curriculum.

Therefore, for example, if there are six poets to be studied rather than just four appearing on the paper, all six will appear in the paper, or whatever mechanism is required to ensure there is the fullest and maximum opportunity for students to answer that paper.

The Deputy will be aware that the entire process of the school reopening map has been one born of extensive engagement and consultation with the widest range of partners, including the voice of students and their representatives and their parents.