Dáil debates
Tuesday, 23 November 2021
Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions
State Examinations
10:05 pm
Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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69. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is considering arrangements for a hybrid leaving certificate for 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57335/21]
Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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This matter follows on from the issue of leaving certificate reform. I liked the hybrid model used for the 2021 examination. The Minister will be aware that I conducted an online survey of parents in Limerick prior to the leaving certificate. They were very much in favour of this model and I think it has worked. I know the State Examinations Commission is due to report but will the leaving certificate for this current year be the same type? Points went up slightly last year and it is critical there is certainty.
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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On 30 June 2021, I announced that adjustments would be made to the 2022 leaving certificate and junior cycle examinations. As in previous years, adjustments were developed in conjunction with the leaving certificate advisory group, which is important. This group includes representation from students, parents, teachers and schools. Details of these adjustments were issued to schools in August 2021 to ensure that students and staff could familiarise themselves with any changes. These arrangements acknowledge the disruption faced by this particular cohort of students because of the Covid-19 pandemic. I consider that these arrangements are proportionate to the students’ experience and loss of learning and are educationally appropriate. The adjustments ensure that the overall structure of exams remains intact but allows for greater choice for students. The level of adjustment will be similar to that applied by the assessment arrangements for junior cycle and leaving certificate examinations in 2021, as announced in December 2020.
As part of the adjustments for the 2022 exams, I also announced that an alternative set of leaving certificate examinations will be run in 2022, shortly after the conclusion of the main set of exams. These exams will be limited to certain students who are unable to sit the main set of exams due to close family bereavement and certain other categories of serious illness, to be determined with due regard for the principles of equity, fairness and integrity, which govern all aspects of the exam system.
The State Examinations Commission will issue further details regarding the 2022 examinations, guided by prevailing public health advice, which is an important consideration. There will be further engagement with stakeholders through the advisory group on planning for the State examinations, and with other stakeholders as appropriate, in advance of any detailed announcement.
Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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The Minister might just give us her view on the hybrid model that was in place for the 2021 leaving certificate examination. What did we learn from that? I believe in that combination of continuous assessment and written exam for those students. I like the aspect of anonymity in the latter, but we have to give certainty to students. What did the Minister and the Department learn from the hybrid model of calculated grades combined with written exams used for the most recent leaving certificate?
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge that the provision of an opportunity, in the midst of a pandemic, for students to avail of the accredited grades process and written exams was a remarkable achievement for the education sector. I acknowledge school leadership and school communities who, in a very difficult and challenging time, really pulled together to ensure that the classes of 2021 and 2020 would have an opportunity to find a pathway forward to sit a final State exam.
One of the most interesting learnings from the process was the fact that there was such a high uptake for both options. There was a high uptake for the written exams, on which an element of doubt was cast originally. It was very interesting to see that students opted to maximise their potential. There are learnings from that but, equally, also from all we have known and experienced of senior cycle, in particular, prior to Covid.
10:15 pm
Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael)
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Little did we think that two years after, we would still be very much living with and having to deal with Covid. We may have to do so for a number of years. Does the Minister believe the hybrid model that was adopted last year will be sustainable during any Covid period?
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Clear guidance has been given to schools on how the exams will operate for 2022. This has been formulated via the advisory group, which includes parents, teachers, students and school management and, therefore, it has been the widest engagement of consultation. Those amendments and their offering of a wider choice has been communicated to schools. Students are now very familiar with that opportunity. Equally, I was clear in making the decision that a second opportunity for taking the leaving certificate exams would be made available as close as possible after the first sitting of leaving certificate. We continue to operate currently and going forward on the back of public health advice, and any contingencies that might be required as a consequence of that advice will be put in place.