Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I fully recognise the disruption caused to students due to take state examinations in 2022 due to the Covid 19 pandemic. In a similar fashion to 2020 and 2021, the planning work for the state examinations 2022 has been greatly assisted by the advisory group on planning for state examinations, whose membership includes representatives of students, parents, teachers and school management.

Having heard the views of the members of the advisory group, and following consideration of this matter by Government, I announced on 1 February the decision:

- To operate an examinations only approach in 2022;

- To make further significant changes to the examinations themselves;

- To provide students with a commitment that the overall results of Leaving Certificate 2022 will not be lower than in 2021.

Further adjustments have been announced to the Leaving Certificate examination papers, over and above those announced in August 2021. These adjustments 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.

I also confirmed the waiving of the fees for the 2022 Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle examinations.

The approach I announced on 1 February is designed to address the core concerns of students and their families, while ensuring the approach is consistent to the general return to normality in our society and protects the integrity of our examinations system for the future.

The examination will not, however, be a traditional Leaving Certificate examination, in view of the very significant changes made to the examination papers to take account of the disruption to their learning experienced by students, and the commitment that the overall results of the examination will not be lower than 2021.

I also confirmed that Junior Cycle examinations will take place this summer. Adjustments to the assessment arrangements for Junior Cycle were published in August 2021 and provide for more teaching time in schools. They include a reduction in the number of Classroom Based Assessments to be completed, the removal of the requirement to complete Assessment Tasks, and adjustments to the requirements in coursework and practical performance tests.

My Department has provided a suite of guidance materials, agreed with the education partners, to enable schools to mediate the curriculum safely for all pupils/students in a COVID-19 context. These are available at www.gov.ie/backtoschool.

The website also contains information on wellbeing supports for Leaving Certificate students.  This includes a series of supports on managing wellbeing, coping with uncertainty and managing stress and anxiety, developed by the National Educational Psychological Service in the Department, to support students. The webpage has links to more individualised support for students to access, should these be needed. My Department worked with the Department of Health and the HSE to ensure the most appropriate services and resources are clearly signposted for students. These are available here: www.gov.ie/en/publication/af24b-wellbeing-guidance-documents-for-parents-students-and-schools/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/en/publication/0722b-wellbeing-resources/.