Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, for coming in to respond to this issue. We saw that the leaving certificate classes of 2020 and 2021 both experienced enormous difficulties. It was through the leadership of the Department and the Minister, Deputy Foley, and the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, that we were able to reach an accommodation. I pay tribute in particular to the work of the Irish Second-Level Students Union which engaged very closely with the Minister and her officials in a spirit of collaboration in order to reach an accommodation for this year's leaving certificate. Well done to all of those who managed to survive this year.

Those who were in fifth year last year experienced significant disruption. A lot of students are concerned about the fact that the curriculum may not be covered by the end of the year. Even though teachers made valiant efforts to cover the course remotely, some students had difficulty being online all of the time due to insufficient broadband and home environments may not have been supportive. The online learning experience is not as good as that in the classroom.

It is important that there is clarity as soon as possible and certainty that the students who will sit the leaving certificate next year know what they will face over the academic year 2021-22. They require clarity on what is happening with the leaving certificate next year, what allowances might be made and what supports will be put in place for students. Will there be adjustments to the exam? I am aware that the Department is in discussions on this matter. The hallmark of the Department's engagement to date has been to place students at the centre of this process and to ensure that the welfare and education of students is to the fore. They have lost out on a hell of a lot, including aspects of their education. As legislators, we have an obligation to try to ensure that they are supported in whatever way we can during their leaving certificate year, but in particular that they have clarity on the type of exam they will face and what supports and allowances will be made.

I am very conscious that the Government has expanded the number of places in higher education and also in apprenticeships, which means that for the leaving certificate classes of 2021 and 2022 there are more post second-level school opportunities than ever before. However, the Minister of State will understand the enormous worries that those who are entering into sixth year now face, having lost out on so much over the past year. I hope certainty will be provided this summer before those students go back to class in September so that they and their teachers know what they will face in the following academic year.