Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the changes she will introduce in the leaving certificate examination; if she proposes to hold some parts of the examination prior to June; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40158/06]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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A range of components in the Leaving Certificate examinations already take place prior to June. For example, coursework in Home Economics Scientific and Social is required to be completed by November. The Engineering project is required to be completed in March, and the oral examinations are completed in April, in addition to the LCVP Link Modules portfolio, the practical coursework elements of Religion, History and Geography, Agricultural Science, and Agricultural Economics, elective coursework in Home Economics, the practical component of Music and the Construction Studies Project. The practical examination in Engineering, Construction, Art and the elective in composing in Music take place in May as well as the written examination for the LCVOP Link Modules.

The Leaving Certificate Applied programme also provides for completion of assessment components throughout the cycle.

I am acutely aware of the importance of ensuring a spread of assessment points, and of the need to move away from the heavy demand placed on students in the June terminal examinations. I asked the State Examinations Commission to discuss this issue with the partners in education to see how it might best be addressed.