Written answers

Wednesday, 9 February 2022

Department of Education and Skills

State Examinations

Photo of Richard O'DonoghueRichard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent)
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98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her attention has been drawn to the stress and upset students are experiencing since the announcement of the leaving certificate exams reverting back to written; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7112/22]

Photo of Norma FoleyNorma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I am very aware of the disruption and stress experienced by students who are due to take their Leaving Certificate examinations this year. I also know that students had sought certainty and clarity regarding the approach to be taken in respect of this year’s examinations. I hope that the measures I announced on 1 February, including further significant changes to examination papers, and confirmation that the overall set of Leaving Certificate results that the class of 2022 will attain will be at least the same level as the results attained by the class of 2021, will help address the concerns of students and provide the certainty and clarity sought by them.

In recent weeks and in advance of my announcement of 1 February, I met with the Advisory Group on Planning for the State Examinations, which has representatives of students, parents, teachers, school managerial bodies, the further and higher education sector, and the State Examinations Commission. Following on from this meeting, I met with the members of the advisory group on a bilateral basis and also had further engagement with each of them thereafter. I listened carefully to what each of these stakeholders has had to say and examined each of their points.

It was following this engagement, and after consideration of the matter by Government, that I announced the decision to operate an examinations approach for Leaving Certificate in 2022.

The further significant changes to the examination papers, over and above those announced in August 2021, have just been communicated to schools. These changes will mean that candidates: have greater choice in the papers; have less questions to answer; and still have the same amount of time as in a normal year to complete the examination.

This is in addition to previously announced changes, such as the running of the Leaving Certificate Oral Examinations and Music Practical over the first week of the Easter Break.

Timeframes for certain assessment elements of the Leaving Certificate Applied examinations have also been moved out. Schools were also reminded of the flexibilities they have regarding the dates for completion and authentication of examination Coursework.

Additionally, I have confirmed the waiving of the fees for the 2022 Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle examinations.

As part of the adjustments for the 2022 examinations, an alternative set of Leaving Certificate examinations will be run in 2022, shortly after the conclusion of the main set of examinations. These examinations will be limited to certain students who are unable to sit the main set of examinations due to close family bereavement, COVID 19 illness and certain other categories of serious illness to be determined, with due regard for the principles of equity, fairness and integrity, which govern all aspects of the examinations system.

The most current information on all matters relating to the Leaving Certificate examinations is available on an ongoing basis at gov.ie - Leaving Certificate 2022 (www.gov.ie). This includes an updated set of wellbeing information and supports for students, parents/guardians and school staff, developed by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) in my Department. In addition, NEPS, in collaboration with the Department of Health and the HSE, have collaborated to provide up-to-date information and links to supports available for Leaving Certificate students at this time in a Mental Health and Wellbeing Information Leaflet, copies of which have been sent to all post primary schools.

Information regarding the examinations is also available from the State Examinations Commission at SEC Home - State Examination Commission (examinations.ie).

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