Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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313. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures which can be taken to assist a student (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36251/21]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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On 17 February I confirmed that Leaving Certificate 2021 examinations would proceed, guided by public health advice, and that students would also have the alternative option of applying for grades accredited by the State Examinations Commission (SEC), to be known as SEC-Accredited Grades. This decision was taken by government to ensure for every candidate in 2021, 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.

The written examinations began on 9 June and ran until 17 June in the case of Leaving Certificate Applied and 29 June in the case of Leaving Certificate (established).

Candidates were provided with the choice of sitting the examinations, opting to receive Accredited Grades or both on a subject by subject basis. This dual process, believed to be unique in the world, was put in place following consultation with stakeholders in response to the disrupted learning experienced by the class of 2021 during the periods of school closures in 2020 and 2021.

In any subject where a candidate sits the examination and opts to receive an Accredited Grade, they will be credited with the better of the two results.

The results this year are expected to issue by the SEC on Friday 3 September through the Candidate Self Service Portal. The results issue date this year must take account of both the examinations marking process and the Accredited Grades process operating in parallel and being brought together at the end to issue to candidates. To ensure the accuracy and the integrity of the results being provided to candidates, sufficient time must be allowed not only in the parallel operation of both of these complex processes but also in the integration of the results to ensure that candidates are provided with a set of examinations results that comprises, based on their individual options on a subject by subject basis, examination results, Accredited Grades or the better of the two.

A range of checking and robust quality assurance procedures apply to the resulting and grading processes for the examination results and Accredited Grades focussed on maintaining data integrity and on identifying and reconciling candidate information. Given the robust quality assurance checks associated with the resulting process and in the integration of both the Accredited Grades and written examinations, It is of vital importance that the processes are given sufficient time to execute to the highest standards.

Candidates’ results will be transferred to the CAO at the earliest opportunity to facilitate the generation of offers to CAO applicants. The CAO have announced that Round 1 offers will be made on 7 September.

For those Leaving Certificate candidates who have applied to pursue their higher education in UK universities, the UCAS general deadline for acceptance of conditional offers is 8 September 2021. It is understood that a small number of UK higher education institutions (HEIs) are operating an earlier date than 8 September for the acceptance of offers. As was the case in 2020 the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science are again this year engaging with such HEIs in the UK to clarify the position regarding Leaving Certificate students and to seek that flexibility will be exercised with regard to the registration of these students. I have also written to my ministerial colleagues in other jurisdictions seeking their support in this matter.

It is, however, important that candidates who have applied for places in universities and colleges outside of Ireland should engage with the institutions to which they have applied as early as possible to notify them of the results date and to confirm their position.