Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 572: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills her views on the implications of leaving certificate guidelines (details supplied) for students who are bereaved by the sudden death of parents immediately before or during examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27621/10]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Leaving Certificate in Ireland is a centrally organised final examination which is examined by external examiners. This situation is in stark contrast to the position in other countries where the suite of assessment methodology includes a significant element of school-based assessment of students undertaken by the class teachers, and in doing so provides a template where there is capacity and flexibility to respond to cases where students are unable due to adversity or trauma to complete their examinations.

Each year the certificate examinations give rise to many situations where a real human factor must be balanced against the requirements of fairness to the general body of students. At the certificate examinations each student's work must be marked according to the common marking scheme for the subject concerned. This is to ensure equitable, consistent and fair treatment for all candidates.

Within the constraints of our system, every possible effort is made by the SEC to accommodate candidates who suffer illness, bereavement or other trauma either immediately before or during the examinations. Each year, arrangements are made to cater for a wide range of emergencies. These include special sittings in venues such as hospitals and alterations to the standard examination timetable. The National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) is also on hand to assist schools and students in crisis situations during examinations. While the limitations of this approach are fully recognised, a range of alternatives have been considered and been found not to be feasible in dealing with this issue.

In particular, the question of offering a repeat examination has been explored a number of times, and it has been concluded that this is not possible within the constraints of a centrally organised externally examined system. The length of the school year, the 13 day timescale needed for holding examinations, the supply of examiners, the timely supply of results to the CAO system for higher level admission, the appeal process, the marking of the Junior Certificate, the difficulty in identifying fair and equitable criteria governing eligibility to enter for repeat examinations, and the likely demand for repeat options for all candidates who seek them, are all constraints. In the final analysis, it is difficult to see a fair, proper and impartial system of repeat examinations without allowing all applicants to repeat their tests.

The matter will be kept under review taking account of international practice.