Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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113. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps she will take to ensure that students attending Gaelcholáistí who complete their leaving certificate through Irish are not disadvantaged as a result, particularly in the Irish exam; and if assurances will be given that these students will not be unfairly downgraded in their Irish exam. [13721/21]

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. It is assumed the Deputy’s question refers to students who are completing their leaving certificate through Irish and who will opt to apply for SEC-Accredited Grades.

The Government 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, includes information on how the SEC-Accredited Grades process will operate in relation to students who are completing their leaving certificate through Irish and who have opted to apply for SEC-Accredited Grades. Teachers will be asked to provide an estimate of the student’s likely mark in each subject on the assumption that the bonus that is applicable for answering the written paper through Irish is included in the estimate. It is anticipated that most teachers who are teaching through Irish will have internalised and taken account of the impact of the bonus when making their initial judgements, so that no explicit calculation of the bonus will be needed. The full detail of the standardisation model for SEC-Accredited Grades will be determined in conjunction with the contractor engaged to assist in this process.