Dáil debates
Thursday, 23 March 2023
Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions
State Examinations
10:50 am
Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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56. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update regarding the review of the eligibility criteria of the deferred leaving certificate examinations; when the criteria to be applied to this year's exams will be communicated to students, schools and parents; if a distinction will continue to be made between medical emergencies before and during the examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14339/23]
Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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I want to ask the Minister for Education if she will provide an update regarding the review of the eligibility criteria of the deferred leaving certificate examinations; when the criteria to be applied to this year's exams will be communicated to students, schools, and parents; if a distinction will continue to be made between medical emergencies before and during the examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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It is acknowledged that candidates can experience many forms of trauma and adversity, such as serious illness and bereavement, and that this may happen around the time of the leaving certificate examinations and that they may be sitting examinations at a time that is not optimal for them. The State Examinations Commission, SEC, has responsibility for the operation, delivery and development of the State examinations. For the 2022 leaving certificate examinations, the State Examinations Commission provided an extended scheme of deferred examinations within the policy context of the reasonable accommodations at the certificate examinations, RACE, scheme.
Until 2019, candidates who missed their leaving certificate examinations due to bereavement, or for any other reason, had no option but to sit their examinations the following year. However, that was then changed. In advance of the 2022 leaving certificate, the SEC undertook a comprehensive review of the broader issue of how best to support candidates experiencing trauma and adversity at examinations time. The review process included consultation and engagement with stakeholders and advocacy groups, as well as research into practice in other jurisdictions. For the State examinations in 2022, the completion of the review resulted in the extended eligibility for the deferred examinations to candidates unable to sit their examinations in the main sitting due to serious accident, injury or illness. Candidates who were absent from examinations on public health grounds due to Covid-19 also had access to the deferred examinations.
In 2022, more than 61,000 candidates sat the leaving certificate. Of these, a total of 397 candidates who were eligible for access to the deferred examinations sat these examinations in some 30 regional centres throughout the country, across a number of subjects. Of the 397 eligible applications, 43 were due to bereavement, 84 due to serious medical condition and 270 on foot of public health advice due to Covid-19. These deferred examinations were of equivalent standard to the June examinations and ran up until 16 July. The results of these deferred examinations issued at the same time as the main examination results. There was no difference for the candidate, or for the end user of the results, between results attained in June and those attained in July. The provisional statement of results or the final certificate did not indicate which examination a candidate sat.
In light of the experience of the 2022 leaving certificate, the SEC is evaluating the provision of deferred leaving certificate examinations under the RACE scheme.
Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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As the Minister is aware, Epilepsy Ireland has long campaigned to ensure that if a student experiences a medical emergency, such as a seizure, during the leaving certificate exam and is unable to complete the exam, he or she should be given the opportunity to resit the exam within the deferred exam cycle. The fact that this is not already the case is beyond belief.
I raised this matter with the Minister about 18 months ago. I implore her to ensure that those who experience seizures, or other medical emergencies, during the leaving certificate are allowed to resit the exam in the same summer. At this time there is a cruel distinction between those who experience an emergency before and during the exam, with the former given reasonable accommodation and the latter excluded.
As the Minister is aware, seizures are unpredictable. Stress and anxiety can lower a person's seizure threshold. The leaving certificate can be one of the most stressful periods in a student's life. Students with epilepsy have a heightened anxiety knowing that if they have a seizure during the exam and are unable to complete it, the only option for them is to repeat the exam a year later. This situation should not be allowed to continue.
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The current provision that was made available in 2022 is now under review by the State Examinations Commission, which has jurisdiction over this. The SEC has informed me that the review is continuing and that it contains consultation and engagement with several stakeholders. I have also been assured that it is a high priority for the SEC and it is working to complete the process, which is at an advanced stage, as soon as possible.
I have met with Epilepsy Ireland and I can confirm that the SEC also met with Epilepsy Ireland. I am conscious of the points raised by the Deputy and I know this issue is of particular interest to him. I am also conscious of the points raised by Epilepsy Ireland and I am sure the SEC is also equally as conscious of the points raised.
The opportunity to have a second sitting of the leaving certificate exam is one I believe firmly in. We achieved that in the past couple of years and we want to give every opportunity to students to maximise their ability.
11:00 am
Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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11 o’clock
I do not doubt the Minister's passion for the issue. An exception was previously made for a student who experienced appendicitis during an exam. Let us not treat differently those who experience a seizure, as some unfortunately do. Let us take it that all of us across the Chamber, including the Minister and I, agree that if a student who experiences epilepsy has a seizure during an exam, it is only fair and right that he or she gets to repeat the exam during that exam cycle. The system we have at the minute places an increased level of anxiety on students who may already have experienced epilepsy during their lifetime. Let us just address this. I believe we both accept there is a gap and we need to step in and fill it. I appreciate the SEC has jurisdiction here but there is also a role for politicians to push that body and tell it that we need the review completed within this exam year because it is just really unfair. It seems a bit silly and we can get in front of it quickly.
Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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To reiterate, the whole purpose of a having a second sitting of the exam is to ensure that students get the maximum opportunity to achieve to the maximum of their ability. I have always been very clear that one of the key functions of the second sitting is to facilitate students impacted by issues such as bereavement or illness. As I have said, I have met with Epilepsy Ireland and am very conscious of the case it has made. I completely accept the Deputy's bona fides in respect of this issue. As he has said, I am sure there is agreement across the Chamber on this. The SEC has ultimate responsibility. I believe it is very conscious of this issue. It oversees the exams but it is also its aspiration that every young person will get the opportunity to achieve to the maximum of his or her ability. It is a very positive step that the commission has met with Epilepsy Ireland and I understand it gave it a very good hearing. As I have said, the review is ongoing but will be completed imminently.