Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister and thank her for the excellent work she and her Department have done throughout the year, especially in the past number of months. No matter who one talks to in any sector of society, people seek clarity. The fact that students this year have got that clarity - and that they got it quite early - is greatly appreciated. When I have spoken to any student or teacher in the last few months the one thing they have pointed out is that, compared to last year, they now have clarity going into the leaving certificate. It is greatly welcomed.

This year is incredibly difficult for students. This time last year, we thought that the students of 2020 would be under great pressure, like no other year before or after. Little did we know that the students of 2021 would have an even more difficult experience and lose so much time over the two-year leaving certificate cycle. However, it must be said that they are a resilient group. The fact that 80% of the students have decided they want to sit the leaving certificate examination shows their resilience and commitment to education. The clarity the Minister provided at the start helped students in the context of the decision they had to make.

I welcome the fact that there is no ranking system in place this year. It was unnecessary; it was not necessary for students to know where they ranked in their class. It was very unfair on teachers to have to do that. It is important as well to welcome the fact that there can be no canvassing this year. I listened to previous speakers refer to different groups that might have canvassed. It is very dangerous to speak in those terms when we have no facts about who canvasses and who does not. To throw out comments about which sectors of society might canvass in the absence of facts is very dangerous. There are different types of canvassing. There is a short word and there is also the teacher feeling intimidated, so we must be careful on that front. It is welcome that it cannot be done now. I am aware that Members who spoke on it said that the punishment should not be to the student, but if people, and certainly parents, are aware that it is the student who suffers as a result of that, it will discourage most reasonable parents from getting into that way of thinking.

I have two questions about the running of the leaving certificate examination which the Minister might be able to answer. Most schools are closing on 28 May, and the leaving certificate examination starts on 9 June. If one is unlucky enough to contract Covid-19, one must self-isolate for 14 days. Would it make sense, perhaps, to let sixth-year leaving certificate students finish a couple of days earlier than 28 May so there is no possibility that they might get Covid-19 in an environment with a large number of people? Perhaps schools could close on 24 or 25 May. That would give rise to a 14-day grace period whereby students cannot contract Covid-19 in school settings and then miss the examinations as a result. It is only a few days but it has huge implications in terms of missing one or two examinations. Given that 80% of students want to sit their examinations, we should do everything we can to ensure they do not miss out on one or two of their examinations at the early stages through no fault of their own because they might be in a classroom and be a close contact. Perhaps the Minister would consider that.

If a student has Covid-19 or ends up being a close contact of somebody who has Covid-19 during the examinations, what are the options for that student? There seems to be some confusion among teachers and students and even in the media as to whether there might be a possibility of having a second sitting of the examinations or they might have to revert to the calculated grades.Students want to sit the exams and get the grade they deserve. If, halfway through doing their leaving cert exams, they are a close contact or have Covid-19, do they revert to the calculated grades or will there be an option to sit?

I wish all students and teachers well, particularly in Tipperary, and commend them for the work they have done throughout the year. I thank the Minister for the work she has done this year. It is much appreciated.