Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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64. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress being made in ensuring that sufficient exam markers are available for the leaving certificate exams this year to ensure timely issuing of results; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22888/23]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The start of the leaving certificate exams is only a few weeks away. The focus will then quickly shift to correcting and getting results out. It was early September last year before leaving certificate students saw their results and nearly December before junior certificate students saw theirs. The later the results, the more difficult and stressful it can be for students. There is knock-on pressure in terms of getting college offers and accommodation. The availability of correctors contributed to the delay last year. Will the Minister outline the efforts being made to ensure that there are enough people available now to correct the leaving and junior certificate examinations this year?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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While the State Examinations Commission, SEC, is responsible for the operation, delivery and development of State examinations, I am very much aware of the importance for students, parents and education stakeholders of ensuring that the results of the 2023 leaving certificate are delivered in as timely a manner as possible. While it is not yet in a position to confirm the date of those results, I have informed the SEC that my wish and expectation is to see them being issued in August. I engage on an ongoing basis with the SEC - indeed, I will meet it again this week - and it is clear on this point.

Last year was the first time since 2019 that written State examinations were undertaken by all students and the date for the issuing of results was influenced by a number of factors. I acknowledge the additional burdens that were placed on the SEC. These included a challenge in recruiting sufficient examiners, the welcome provision of a set of deferred examinations for candidates who experienced illness or bereavement, and the implementation of a post-marking adjustment, which gave effect to the commitment that results in 2022 would be no lower in the aggregate than in the previous year.

Regarding examiners specifically, it is of note that examination candidate numbers are 12% higher than they were ten years ago while examiner numbers are close to 20% lower over the same period. While this is not a new issue, it has been exacerbated over the course of the Covid pandemic. The SEC has undertaken a comprehensive review of the issue of contract staff recruitment, which includes extensive engagement with stakeholders. The core objective of the review process is to increase substantially the number of teachers involved in examination work so that the experience is a positive one that enhances teachers' professional competence as well as their earning power. The SEC has established a working group, which includes representatives of the management bodies and teacher unions, to consider measures to ensure the availability of teachers in the required numbers for this critical work into the future.

The cornerstone of the 2023 recruitment campaign is a new website where teachers can find all relevant information. Oral and practical examinations for the 2023 leaving certificate took place in March, April and May. I welcome that the SEC was able to recruit the required complement of examiners for these oral and practical components and that there was no issue with either.

Applications for positions as written examiners continue to be accepted and we encourage as many as possible to apply. In recent years, there have been significant increases in the rates paid to examiners. Funding has again been provided for these rates in 2023.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

The typical earning range for a junior cycle examiner is between €4,858 and €5,010, while for leaving certificate examiners, it is between €7,721 and €10,844. These rates depend on the subject and the number of scripts marked.

The SEC and my Department are appreciative of the co-operation of schools and teachers in the successful administration and assessment of the State certificate examinations each year. The SEC advises that the multifaceted recruitment efforts for the 2023 examinations are having a positive impact on the level of interest in examining positions for the written examinations, but the process is ongoing and examiners are still needed.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Last year saw a great deal of pressure on getting people to correct exams, which contributed to the delays in issuing results as well as other issues. I understand that the SEC has undertaken a promotional campaign and that there are additional payments and so on to attract people to take on correcting work this year. Have more correctors been recruited this year than last year and how many correctors are there now? Last year saw 131,000 leaving and junior certificate students sit exams. This year, that number will increase to 135,000. Are there enough correctors to handle the additional students' scripts? How many people will sit each exam?

It is important that results get out to students in a timely manner, reducing the already stressful experience of waiting for results. Having people available to correct the work is important.

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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Not for one minute do I underestimate the importance of the results coming out as early as possible. I acknowledge the work of the SEC, which stands over the integrity of the exams. The Deputy referenced the issue of examiners, but the SEC has additional responsibilities in terms of the provision of a deferred exam sitting. That deferral is right and proper. Everyone would agree that if, for an unfortunate reason, a student was not in a position to take the exams the first time around, he or she should have a second opportunity as long as particular criteria are met. Equally, a commitment was given that there would be no cliff edge, as it were, in terms of what was achieved for students during Covid. The post-marking element is another issue for the SEC.

The SEC is working through applications. I am confident it will be in a position to make an announcement about the date before the 2023 leaving certificate, and I have made it clear that that should happen in the coming weeks. The oral exams and practicals are a positive indication that there was a sufficiency of examiners this year.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Getting results out in a timely manner is important for students. Despite the recruitment campaign, though, it is not clear that there are additional correctors. What numbers have been recruited? Are there particular subjects at issue? Regarding the new art exam, teachers have told me of their concerns about getting marking schemes and even sample questions that they can sit down and review with their students. Will a marking scheme and sample questions issue to art students and their teachers ahead of this year's exam? There are a number of new subjects, including Ukrainian politics. Are there correctors for these subjects and will marking schemes for them be available ahead of the exams?

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The SEC is charged with overall responsibility for running this process and it has confirmed that it is still in the process. It has received a number of applications. We have seen a concerted effort from the SEC in terms of a significant increase in the rates being paid to examiners. This year, the typical earning range for a junior cycle examiner is between €4,858 and €5,010, while for leaving certificate examiners, it is between €7,721 and €10,844. These rates depend on the subject and the number of scripts marked. This is a significant uplift in the funding made available to correctors.

The SEC has successfully overseen the orals and practicals this year with a sufficiency of examiners. The data on how many are available will have to come from the SEC.

The Ukrainian politics subject is only starting in fifth year this year, so will not be examined now. It will also be a non-curricular subject.

When the SEC has the data available to it, it will make a public announcement on these matters.