Results 5,561-5,580 of 10,319 for speaker:Jim O'Callaghan
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: We do particularly well in comparison to Northern Ireland.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: A number of witnesses have come before us and identified the main problem with the leaving certificate is that it is exclusively seen and used as a means to access third level institutions. Some of them have suggested that we should try to decouple the leaving certificate and the points race from admission to third level institutions. Does Ms. Feeney think the committee should consider this...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: At least there is some certainty with the leaving certificate. If one looks to the United States or other jurisdictions, when it comes to admission to third level institutions, each institution can formulate its own admission practices.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: One of the legitimate criticisms that is made of the leaving certificate is that many students engage in rote learning in respect of certain subjects, such as English or history, whereas it is hard to engage in rote learning in other subjects such as in maths because it assesses one's capacity and ability to do mathematical questions. How can we overcome or get around the issue of students...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: I apologise for interrupting, but is there no way the assessment method could ensure the student would not just engage in rote learning in advance of being assessed?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: That is interesting. We talk about the stress the leaving certificate puts on students, and we all have to play a role in that - not just the political system and Irish culture but also the media. Do we overhype it as an event in the Irish summer cycle? It is like a summer school, with additional pages in the newspapers given to the issue. Is that common in other jurisdictions?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: Why does Ms Forster think that is the case in Ireland?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: Does it add to the pressure on students when the leaving certificate is elevated in the public mind to being such an important annual event?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: In fairness to the media, I do not think there is any intention to impose stress on students, but it has become so culturally embedded in the Irish calendar and society that it is a huge event in people's lives and is regarded as a significant annual event here. Is there anything we as Oireachtas Members could do to make it less stressful, or will it always be the case that the examination...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: When Mr. Slattery says high stakes, is he talking about it being seen as determining the future career path of a young person?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: Yes.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: I suppose the reason people previously before this committee recommended trying to decouple it is to try to-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: -----reduce those stakes. That is the purpose and one can see the logic behind recommending decoupling leaving certificate results from admission to third level.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: Certainly.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: I think everyone on this committee agrees with Ms O'Connor that is the kind of shared vision we want. Unfortunately, something has developed that is not allowing that vision to manifest itself. It is just seen as a hierarchical system where the successful ones are at the top of the points level. It is not viewed in terms of achievement and broadening the educational attainment of a student...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: I know, and I appreciate the answer. The objective in the future should be to recognise that if an examination date is given, then students are prepared for that. If we are trying to ensure that we are cutting down on stress, then that scenario would be stressful for a student. Sometimes we overinflate other types of stress. It would, however, be stressful if an examination was due to...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Skills: Leaving Certificate Reform: Discussion (Resumed) (26 Apr 2022)
Jim O'Callaghan: Does the Chair want me to keep talking?