Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am setting out the actual nature of the reforms that are being proposed. Under the system proposed by the Minister, 60% of marks in the junior cycle will be allocated on the basis of an examination at the end of third year. In other words, the majority of marks will still be given on the basis of an examination that will continue to be set and marked by the State Examinations Commission, SEC. That is a very significant change from the original proposal. The remaining 40% of marks will be awarded for school-based work. This amounts to a very small change in practice, given that more than 50% of secondary schools already avail of the existing flexibility whereby 40% of marks may be allocated on the basis of an oral assessment in the case of Irish and modern languages or for school-based work such as portfolios and projects in the case of a range of other subjects. In short, teachers in many schools are already engaging in that type of assessment and the Minister is simply proposing that it be moved to a more formal, structured model. The Minister has also confirmed that the State certificate will continue to issue to every student on completion of the junior cycle, with the SEC responsible for monitoring and spot-checking the assessment of class-based work.

The majority of parents and teachers favour these types of sensible reforms. There are differences of view, of course, and we all hope they will be resolved in the interests of pupils. Children born in 1999, when the reforms I referred to were first proposed, sat their junior certificate this year. We cannot afford to wait any longer. I want to see my children educated within a more modern and fairer system.