Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for raising this issue. It is a topical issue at the moment because of the concerns that have been raised. I welcome the opportunity to address the House. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, has said that she is conscious of the stress relating to the exam periods. As Minister of State in the Department, I understand the serious challenges facing students and I do not want to add to that stress.

While grade inflation must be reduced, it must be done in a way that is as fair as possible. The CAO system is distinct from the operation and accreditation of the leaving certification by the State Examinations Commission. Access to higher education is a matter for the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. The Department of Education has been working closely with the Department of further education on this matter. I am aware that the Department has been working over many years with the higher education and further education training sectors to provide increased opportunities and pathways into further and higher education to help reduce the pressures on students.

The Department of Education has been advised that the proportion of higher education entrants who completed their leaving certificates in the previous year typically around 13%. There are no indications at this time that the proportion of students applying with pre-2025 leaving certificate results varies significantly this year compared with previous years.

Regarding the leaving certificate, following the implementation of calculated grades in 2020 and the dual approach of the examinations and accredited grades in 2021, two types of intervention have been implemented in recent years, namely, adjustments to the examination and assessment arrangements and the post-marking adjustments to outcomes. The first of these - the adjustment to assessment arrangements - assists students by leaving intact the familiar overall structure of the examinations while incorporating additional choice for students. In some cases, the adjustment measures provide more time for tuition by, for example, reducing preparatory work for practical examinations. The adjustments to assessment arrangements that have applied in recent years continue to apply in the 2025 leaving certificate year. The second intervention - the post-marking adjustment - has ensured that results in the aggregate have remained the same on average since 2021. Aggregated grades rose significantly in 2020 by 4.4% and by a further 2.6% in 2021.

As is widely recognised, we must return to pre-pandemic levels. In April 2024, it was announced by the then Minister for Education that this would be done gradually in line with the commitment that there would be no cliff edge relating to the overall results. In 2025, the State Examinations Commission will again apply a post-marking adjustment after marking is completed. This will bring results, in the aggregate, to a point broadly midway between the 2020 and 2021 levels, resulting in an aggregate in 2025 that is expected to be above 2019 levels by at least 5.5% on average. This return is being done in a gradual way to minimise the impact on students in so far as possible.The State Examinations Commission has been a successful organisation. It is an independent body with considerable credit. Huge store has been put in it by the entire education system - the students, parents and education practitioners - over many years because of the excellent work it has done. Those are the points I wish to make.