Written answers

Thursday, 22 October 2020

Department of Education and Skills

State Examinations

Photo of John Paul PhelanJohn Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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103. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when the repeat leaving certificate exams will take place; the contingency plans that will come into force if Covid-19 restrictions come into force which preclude the current intended course of action from taking place; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32191/20]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The State Examinations Commission (SEC) has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations. 

The SEC is continuing with plans to hold the postponed 2020 Leaving Certificate examinations in November 2020. The examinations will be run by the SEC across the school network and will adhere to all public health requirements. No decision has been made to change these arrangements. 

The Government has stated that schools will remain open during the Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions, which will facilitate the holding of the examinations. 

Some 2,900 candidates have applied to sit the November examinations, together with a small number of adult learners and early school leavers who will sit Junior Cycle examinations.  

Schools will be provided with extra supports to allow the examinations to be held safely, including funding for sanitising and cleaning materials. 

As part of its contingency planning process for the examinations the SEC included a contingency that, should the November examinations have to be cancelled for public health reasons, they could be held in parallel with the Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations in June 2021. The candidates in question, however, would be sitting the 2020 examinations, based on 2020 examination papers.  It should be noted that no decision had been taken in relation to these contingency plans.  The SEC’s clear plan and intention, and that of Government, is that the examinations will proceed as planned in November, with schools provided with the required supports to allow the examinations to be held.

In addition, the CAO arrangements that were in place for candidates sitting the November examinations would remain in place if these examinations were postponed, i.e. candidates who receive an improved CAO offer on foot of their results of the postponed exams, will also receive a deferred college offer to start their course in the 2021/22 academic year.

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