Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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100. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the leaving certificate guidance issued by her Department at the beginning of March 2021 requested that teachers will demonstrate that no two students are placed on the same estimated percentage mark leaving teachers to continue to put students in a ranked order in 2021 in view of the fact that assurances were given that students would not be ranked within their classes in 2021; and the further reason it is not possible for two students to be given the same mark. [13604/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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On 17 February, I confirmed that Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations will proceed and students will also have the option of applying for grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), to be known as SEC-Accredited Grades.

This decision ensures for every student a method to assess their learning and attainment at the end of their post-primary education and to progress to higher and further education, and the world of work.

Under the SEC-Accredited Grades process, students will have the opportunity to opt to receive an SEC-Accredited Grade. They can also opt to sit the Leaving Certificate Examination. Students will opt into these processes on a subject by subject basis. Where students opt for SEC-Accredited Grades and the examinations they will be credited with the better of their results from the two processes, on a subject by subject basis.

The Guide to State Examinations and Accredited Grades for Leaving Certificate 2021, published on 25 February, states that subject teachers will need to demonstrate that no two students are placed on the same estimated percentage mark, up to two decimal places. This is a requirement of the in school alignment process. However, it is intended that teachers will not be required to explicitly rank students in a numeric order of merit as part of this process, as was the case in relation to the operation of the Calculated Grades model in 2020. Furthermore, consideration is also being given to addressing the rankorder issue, if possible, in legislation to be brought forward by the Minister.