Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 774: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if students taking their leaving certificate outside the school system can submit practical course work related to the examination independently of the school system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9555/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. I have made enquiries with the Commission in relation to the issue raised by the Deputy and the position is as follows.

Practical coursework is accepted for assessment by the State Examinations Commission only where it has been completed by candidates under specified conditions.

The subject must be formally timetabled (with timetable available to Commission personnel). The school/centre in which the coursework is completed must be available for monitoring by Commission personnel. The Practical Coursework must be completed under the required conditions as set out for individual subjects. Practical coursework must be conducted under the supervision of a class teacher with the work authenticated by the teacher and Principal.

These conditions have been put in place by the State Examinations Commission in order to maintain the integrity of the examinations process and to ensure inter-candidate equity.