Tag Archives: Leaving Cert

Leaving Cert coverage logo in the Irish Times, 1980s

This morning.

Via Irish Times:

…the perception persists that the Leaving Cert remains a high stakes exam completed during the month of June each year. The announcement by Minister for Education Norma Foley therefore that subjects will in future be assessed through a combination of a terminal exam in June worth 60 per cent of marks along with 40 per cent allocated through other methods, including teacher assessment, is to be greatly welcomed.

Easing The Stress (Irish Times)

This morning.

Dublin Castle. Dublin 2.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan speaking to media before attending a meeting of the Cabinet.

Meanwhile…

Minister for Education Norma Foley will bring proposals to the Cabinet on this year’s Leaving Certificate, which recommend against providing a hybrid exam option.

It is being proposed that Leaving Cert students will sit a written exam, which includes additional elements of choice.

Green Party leader Eamon Ryan described the proposals for a written Leaving Certificate as “fairer option” for students.

Speaking on his way into the Cabinet meeting, he said that accredited grades would not be possible this year.

Asked about Sinn Féin’s description of the proposal as “desperate“, Mr Ryan said that the alternative would have necessitated school profiling, an approach, he said, which would have been a desperate solution.

Cabinet to hear proposals against Leaving Cert hybrid exam (RTE)

Update:

Social Democrats Education Spokesperson Gary Gannon said:

“This year’s Leaving Cert students have suffered two years of upheaval and chaos because of covid. There have been lengthy school closures and persistent absences, of both students and teachers, due to illness caused by covid and the requirement to self-isolate. We must also acknowledge the incredible stress, and anxiety, that students have been under as a consequence of covid.

“This year is not a normal year, so we cannot have a ‘normal’ Leaving Cert. The lived experience of Leaving Cert students, throughout these unprecedented two years, must be acknowledged by Minister for Education Norma Foley. It cannot be business as usual – simply because that makes life easier for the Minister and her Department.”

Sasko Lazarov/RollingNews

This afternoon.

Leinster House, Dublin 2.

Marty Pawlak from Luttrellstown Community College, and fellow 6th year pupils calling for the Government to scrap plans for a traditional Leaving Cert this year, and instead run hybrid examinations, a blend of in-person and online testing.

It’s not a rat race, silly.

It’s a points race.

Then a rat trap.

Sam Boal/RollingNews

Earlier: Drink It In

This afternoon.

Kildare Street, Dublin 2.

Academic Áine Hyland (above) and bilingual activists outside the Dail at the launch of a discussion document demonstrating the case against proposals from the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) for the Irish leaving cert exam, currently under consultation.

Irish language, Gaeltacht and Student bodies behind the document want the reforms – which could lead to Gaeltacht and Gaelscoil Leaving Cert students facing a more challenging Irish exam than their counterparts in the wider secondary sector – rejected.

The document was prepared by Ms Hyland and Fíona Uí Uiginn, and responds to the Senior Cycle Draft Irish Specifications  published for consultation by the NCCA in February.

Tuigeann?

Kinda.

Amadán.

*clips ear*

Leah Farrell/Photocall Ireland

This morning.

More than 60,000 students are receiving their Leaving Cert results today.

Via RTÉ:

Grades are up by an average of 2.4 percentage points compared to last year. However the increase is greater across many higher level subjects.

This is likely to fuel a rise in points for many college courses when CAO offers are made next Tuesday.

…These increases come on top of 2020 results that were themselves significantly inflated compared to previous years, with a 4.4 percentage average rise recorded last year.

Further rise in top grades for Leaving Cert students (RTÉ)

RollingNews

Meanwhile…

In fairness.

From top: Minister for Education Norma Foley; Department of Education briefing note

Last night/This morning.

Mandarin Chinese using simplified script was introduced as a new subject on the Leaving Cert curriculum in 2019. Ireland is the only country to refuse to accept traditional script.

Via RTÉ

Controversy already surrounds the new exam over a ban on traditional Chinese characters, used in Hong Kong and Taiwan, in favour of China’s simplified script, which the Department said was more suitable for beginners.

RTÉ has learnt that the Department of Education signed a memorandum of understanding with China’s Ministry of Education agreeing “support for implementation of the Leaving Certificate curriculum, particularly in relation to teacher supply and teacher training”.

In response to a request for a copy of the agreement and minutes of a meeting with Chinese officials in July 2019, a Department spokesperson said that the Chinese Ministry of Education and the Chinese Embassy would first need to be consulted “to ensure there is no objection to the release” and in order to “maintain codes of good practice and courtesy.”

Some academics argue that the Communist Party has an interest in promoting its script above alternative writing systems because they provide a gateway to diverse political and historical narratives, at odds with its own.

New questions over China’s role in Leaving Cert exam (RTÉ)

Meanwhile…

RollingNews

Last night.

Prime Time on RTÉ One.

Carlosfandango writes:

ASTI President Ann Piggott or Mystic Meg?

YOU decide.

Meanwhile…

This morning.

Via RTÉ:

Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris expressed disappointment over the ASTI’s decision to step away from the talks.

He said Minister for Education Norma Foley had been trying her best to find a way forward that serves students well.

ASTI pulled out of the talks in protest at what it said was the prioritisation of a calculated grade-type assessment over the sitting of exams.

Union officials are due to meet Minister Foley this afternoon but they said it should not be viewed as an agreement to enter formal talks.

The ASTI said the meeting will take place in the context of discussing their decision to leave the talks yesterday.

‘Beyond unhelpful’ to walk away from exam talks – Harris (RTÉ)

RollingNews

This afternoon.

Asked if the State exams will take place, [Green Party leader and Transport Minister] Eamon Ryan said: “The first priority is getting special needs students back but the second priority is getting Leaving Cert students back in school, and we will be able, in my mind, to do a written Leaving Cert.”

He said the Leaving Cert is “the fairest system” and it would be good for the mental health of students to hold it.

Meanwhile…

Eamon Ryan believes Leaving Cert exam will go ahead (Irish Examiner)

RollingNews

This morning.

Further to a call by Fianna Fáil Senator Timmy Dooley for the Leaving Cert to be scrapped this year….

…on Today with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio One

The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland has again said that the Leaving Certificate exams should run as normal in June, despite a call for it to be called off this year.

…the unions President Anne Piggot said students are not in the classroom because of level of virus transmission and that students and teachers will be returning to the classroom as soon as possible…

….Ms Piggot said that it seems quite unusual that someone from the Minister for Education’s party should be calling for the cancellation of the state exams, particularly when the Minister has committed to them going ahead

ASTI reiterates Leaving Cert should go ahead (RTÉ)

RollingNews