Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

164. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will explain the rationale behind plans for leaving certificate candidates to sit paper 1 in English and Irish in fifth year. [9014/23]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be aware that in March 2022, I announced an ambitious programme of work for a reimagined Senior Cycle of education where the student is at the centre of their Senior Cycle experience which will:

- Empower students to meet the challenges of the 21st century

- Enrich the student experience and build on what’s strong in our current system

- Embed wellbeing and reduce student stress levels

The reforms I announced last March include initiatives to spread the assessment load for students and do so in a way that enhances student wellbeing.

Bearing in mind the significant assessment load at the end of sixth year, as an interim measure I asked the State Examinations Commission (SEC) to alter the timing of Paper One in both Irish and English so that Paper One would take place at the end of fifth year.

In making this announcement, I was responding to a broad consensus for spreading the assessment load. In this regard, the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment’s (NCCA) Advisory Report emphasised the need to reduce the focus on the final examination period and the stress experienced by students associated with this time.